CONSULAR IN CONFIDENCE
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that the Prime Minister should in
principle agree to make such a plea. I submit a
draft letter from the Private Secretary to PS/No
10. SEAD, Hong Kong Department and UND concur.
ARGUMENT
3.
The trial of the Eight, sentencing and appeals
have been in accordance with Malaysian Law. Given
the Malaysian Government's attitude towards drugs
offences it is unlikely that even a plea from the
Prime Minister will save the Eight.
4. There are, however, strong grounds for
entering such a plea. The punishment of death for
such crimes will be widely viewed in Hong Kong
possibly and, to a lesser extent, in Britain as
excessive, and would not be imposed in UK law.
It would also be difficult to justify HMG
5.
doing less for Hong Kong British Dependant
Territory Citizens than was done for Kevin Barlow,
a dual UK/Australian citizen, a resident of
Australia, traveling on an Australian passport and
will be done for Derrick Gregory
should the
decision by the Penang Pardons Board prove
negative.
6. To let the eight die without a plea for
clemency from the Prime Minister would cause added
distress to the families, and provoke indignation
among humanitarian groups in both UK and Hong Kong
who will be monitoring the case.
Political
CONFIDENCE
Bull REVERSE
these