MOTION FOR THE WHITSUN ADJOURNMENT
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
SPEAKING NOTE
1.
Her Majesty's Government's policy, known as the
Creech-Jones doctrine, on capital punishment leaves choice
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of abolition or retention of death penalty to local legis-
Crown's exercise of Prerogative of Mercy is
latures.
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delegated to Governors, although this does not preclude
appeals to Her Majesty. The death sentence remains
on the statute books of seven Dependent Territories.
Defensive (if asked)
2.
In Hong Kong, since 1973, the Governor in Council
has automatically commuted death sentences, having regard
to views of Parliament in the United Kingdom.