CONFIDENTIAL
4. IF YOU USE IT PLEASE WARN US IMMEDIATELY. WE WOULD TAKE THE LINE
THAT ABOLITION HAS BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR SOME TIME IN THE LIGHT OF THE DIMINISHING USE MADE OF THE PUNISHMENT BY THE
COURTS AND INCREASING DOUBTS AS TO ITS EFFECTIVENESS AS A DETERRENT.
5. IF PRESSED FOR DETAILS, WE WOULD SAY THAT THE MATTER HAS NOT YET REACHED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BUT THAT ITS ADVICE WILL BE
SOUGHT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK & GD (6) DEFENCE D
NEWS D
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
MR MURRAY
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
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