CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELNO 552
OF 211615Z MARCH 91
CONFIDENTIAL
pa.
کا کرم
RECE
012353
MDLOAN 6188
TOP COPY
TDIST 2%/
4 APR 1991
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
FOR GO
OUR TELNO 303: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1. WE OWE YOU AN ACCOUNT OF THE OUTCOME OF A MEETING WHICH THE SECRETARY OF STATE HELD WITH A SMALL GROUP OF SENIOR COLLEAGUES ON 14 FEBRUARY IN ORDER TO AGREE THE WAY FORWARD. IN THE EVENT, AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM FCO TELNO 25 TO ANGUILLA WHICH WAS COPIED TO HONG KONG, MINISTERS DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES BY ORDER-IN-COUNCIL.
2.
HAVING ALLOWED TWO WEEKS FOR THE GOVERNORS CONCERNED TO CONSULT POLITICAL LEADERS IN THEIR TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE NOW PROPOSES TO SUBMIT THE ORDER IN TIME FOR THE PRIVY COUNCIL MEETING ON 16 APRIL. THE ORDER WILL BE LAID BEFORE THE HOUSE ON THE SAME DAY AND ANNOUNCED BY MEANS OF AN ARRANGED PARLIAMENT QUESTION. THE TEXT OF THE PROPOSED QUESTION AND ANSWER IS AS FOLLOWS:
Q: WHAT STEPS HAVE HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AND BERMUDA?
A: THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT EXPECTS THOSE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WHICH ELECT TO REMAIN UNDER THE CROWN TO HAVE A SENTENCING POLICY FOR MURDER CONSISTENT WITH THAT WHICH APPLIES IN THE UK WHERE PARLIAMENT HAS EXPRESSED A CLEAR VIEW. FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS CONDUCTED BY OUR GOVERNORS WITH THEIR DEPENDENT TERRITORY GOVERNMENTS, HM THE QUEEN APPROVED AT A MEETING OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD ON 16 APRIL, AN ORDER UNDER WHICH THE DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES IS ABOLISHED AND A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT SUBSTITUTED. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HOPES THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF BERMUDA WILL DECIDE TO FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
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AS YOU SEE, MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO INCLUDE ANY
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