FROM:
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
HKB 380
RECEIVED IN DE
DATE:
4 July 1990
10 JUL 1990
CC:
Mr McLaren
File
Mr Burns
Miss Evans, UND
Mr Butt, Policy Planning
Staff
Mr Chamberlain, Legal
Advisers
Mr Fifoot, Legal
Advisers
Mr Gorham, WIAD
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
TERRITORIES
1. Please refer to your minute of 29 June to Mr Chamberlain (not to all).
2. I agree with Mr Chamberlain (his minute of 2 July) that the Hong Kong angle needs to be brought out rather more fully in the draft submission and letter to the Home Secretary.
3. During the visit of the Governor of Hong Kong to London last week, I mentioned to him that a submission on this subject was under consideration in the Office, and that I expected to see a draft shortly. The Governor registered that what ever Ministers decided in respect of other dependent territories could have very significant implications for Hong Kong. He said that grass roots opinion in the territory was still in favour of the death penalty, although a small but vocal group of liberals wanted it abolished. He asked me to let him have a telegram to consider on his return, setting out all the relevant background.
4. I shall send a telegram to the Governor by the end of the week (he does not return to Hong Kong until Saturday 7 July). In the light of his advice, I will let you have detailed comments on your draft submission (which I am in the meantime copying to Messrs Mclaren, Burns and Fifoot).
ARRAN
A R Paul
BOPACE
CONFIDENTIAL