Parliament was at that time debating the abolition of
capital punishment in Northern Ireland and it was considered
unacceptable on political and racial grounds to be more
lenient to Irish terrorists than to a Chinese murderer in
Hong Kong. Since then commutation by the Governor has been
the rule.
5. The Governor is opposed to disturbing the delicate balance that has been achieved on this contentious issue by any action from outside Hong Kong. However Ministers are
shortly to propose abolishing capital punishment in five
Caribbean Dependent Territories by legislation in the UK. A paper is ready to be put to Cabinet and, if it is approved, Orders in Council could be laid before Parliament early in
the New Year. Strongly expressed public opinion in the
Caribbean DTs and fully elected local legislatures would be
overruled.
6.
It is virtually certain that this would lead to more
questions being raised about the existence of the death penalty in Hong Kong. And it would no longer be possible to
rely on the old arguments about there being strong public
feeling on the matter in Hong Kong without inviting charges of inconsistency. For this reason, the suggested reply to the present question has avoided any reference to local
public opinion. However, the latest information about the
state of public opinion has been provided in the
supplementary notes in case the subject should be raised.
HUGAAZ/2
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