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Mr
Cc: Mr Murray
frist
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Y NO. 51
30 OCT 1978
DISCO.
INDEX
4. Por the A No
Meket
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REGISTRY Action Taken
Mr Quantrill, Hong Kong and General Department
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
final.
287
266
The Department recommended on the strength of the earlier comment by the Secretary of State (Flag E) that Mr Rowlands should reply to the letter from Mr Geoffrey Edge MP to the effect that the Government will consider introducing a change of policy on the question of capital punishment in the Dependent Territories when they have a clear majority in the House of Commons.
2. Mr Rowlands is not sure that we can use this argument in this
context. He feels that the Government cannot know that there is not
even now a majority in the House on this issue without having a
debate.
3.
I should be grateful for guidance.
Ps/th farlands
K D Temple
17 October 1978
Sea 282
I
would have thought that, nyardless of the
"majority
" situation
these is little likelihood
the Hense debating this saine
this session, and that
The
Mr. Rowlands could make that clear to buff Edge.
that he (Iw Rondends) thinks it highly that time could the fand for such a debate. Dundtagen
litter could say undhel
CONFIDENTIAL
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