CONFIDENTIAL
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V.
vi
It would be politically impossible to abolish capital punishment in the smaller dependent territories and not in Hong Kong.
They
Pre-Tiananmen
If steps were taken to end the death penalty in all dependent territories they would be seen in Hong Kong (and probably by the Chinese) as related to 1997. would be welcomed by the more liberal minded, and by more of the general public than would have been the case, but not by grass-roots opinion. There might well be difficulties with the Legislative Council (and perhaps EXCO).
No action we take before 1997 can prevent the legislature in Hong Kong from reintroducing the death penalty after that date, whether or not it has been formally abolished.
Given the importance of the Hong Kong implications, I should be ready to chair a meeting to consider how we should take matters forward once we have Sir D Wilson's initial views.
for
R J T McLaren
CONFIDENTIAL