their constitutions where the prerogative of mercy

is devolved locally. It would also reequire the

renunciation of the convention known as the

Creech-Jones doctrine (formally enunciated to

Parliament in 1947 in reply to a PQ) under which

Governors are required to exercise the Prerogative

of Mercy delegated to them by the Sovereign on the

grounds that the Governor is best placed to know in

the light of local circumstances whether the

prerogative should be exercised. In Dependent

Territories where someone from off-island has

committed a murder, public opinion usually opposes

clemency.

iii) To persuade local legislatures to introduce

local legislation to amend their Constitutions

abolish the death penalty. This has been tried many

times over recent years, and has always failed.

Local Ministers do not wish to be seen supporting

such a change. Nor do they wish to endorse the

action of a Governor when he does commute.

iv) To adopt the so-called "Hong Kong" solution

under which it has become the convention since 1973

(when the Commons were debating capital

punisment) for the Governor

the Governor to commute death

penalties on the grounds that the Executive

Not quit

By The Gen

ref..

Se

16

but was

Council, not being an elected body, could not advise

the Governor against exercising the Prerogative of

Mercy.

(Exco is asked to advise what

16161973 overridden

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