1
F
with F
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5. In January 1980 the department submitted to Ministers on
whether they wished to maintain the policy of not intervening in
capital cases in the Dependent Territories.
The differing position
to the submission,
in Hong Kong was explained in the attachment
though the submission's recommendation itself did not specifically
bring it out. FCO Ministers decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
The position in each territory has thus remained as before.
6. The different treatment of Hong Kong has never been kept a
secret; it could always be deduced from public statements. But the
question has now received publicity with the 'South China Morning
Post' quotation of Mr Ridley's letter to Mr Kenneth Marks MP.
A Note prepared for EXCO stated that the 'South China Morning Post'
article had not given rise to very much media or public interest
in Hong Kong and proposed that there was no need to repeat the
statement of 6 November 1975 in LEGCO as had earlier been suggested
by EXCO.
7. We have received only two letters (to the Prime Minister),
both from the same Hong Kong District Committee, favouring re-intro-
duction of the death penalty.
8. The Points to Make underline the difficulty of sustaining
different treatment of Hong Kong but recognise the practical and
political difficulties in any change now. It would be helpful
to explore:
a) whether the Governor considers that EXCO would be prepared
to continue the current practice without a reiteration by
Ministers of the 1975 statement;
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/(b)