CONFIDENTIAL
W
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 341
OF 20090OZ FEB 91
1425 380/1
064461
MDLOAN 2448
pa.
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN, DUSS
FCO TELNO 303: DEPENDENT TERRITORIES : CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
1.
MINISTERS DECIDED AT THEIR MEETING ON 14 FEBRUARY TO PROCEED TO ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES BY ORDER IN COUNCIL. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THESE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES WOULD BE RETAINED FOR THE OFFENCE OF TREASON, AS IN THE UK.
2.
THERE WILL FOLLOW A FAIRLY BRIEF (2 WEEK) CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES' GOVERNMENTS. THE ORDER IN COUNCIL WILL THEN BE ENACTED VERY SOON AFTER THAT AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED
BY MEANS OF A PQ.
3. I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF PRECISE TIMINGS AND ANY OTHER
RELEVENT DEVELOPMENTS.
4. THERE WILL INEVITABLY BE QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT ASKING WHY SIMILAR ACTION IS NOT BEING TAKEN IN RESPECT OF HONG KONG. WE WILL BE SEEKING YOUR ADVICE SHORTLY ON THE BEST ARGUMENTS TO USE
IN REPLY.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
LIMITED
HKD
WIAD
MR MCLAREN
NNNN
24
DISTRIBUTION
24
MR BURNS
MR BEAMISH
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL