CONFIDENTIAL
this 380/1
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 18
OF 070809Z JANUARY 92
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.r. Cap Pun
155070
MDHIAN 8146
TOP COPY Q DIST?
This was
the posits
YOUR TELNO 6: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN HONG KONG
1. APOLOGISE IF OUR POINT DID NOT COME OVER CLEARLY. WHILE THE CHINESE OFTEN REPEAT THAT THEY INTEND TO IMPLEMENT ''ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS'' FULLY THE SYSTEMS THEY REGARD THEMSELVES AS PLEDGED TO MAINTAIN ARE THOSE WHICH EXISTED IN HONG KONG AT THE TIME OF THE SIGNATURE OF THE JD IN 1984. THE ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH DEATH SENTENCES ARE IMPOSED BY THE COURTS BUT NOT CARRIED OUT IN PRACTICE IS THE KIND OF FUDGE WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTING. THOUGH THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO ARGUE THAT PENALTIES ON THE TWO SIDES OF THE BORDER SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO LINE, THEY WILL BE STRONGLY TEMPTED TO SEE THE FORMAL ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY AS A POLITICAL ACT INSPIRED BY THE UNITED DEMOCRATS AND DIRECTED LARGELY AT CHINA. HENCE OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WE SHOULD GIVE THE CHINESE AS MUCH ADVANCE WARNING AS POSSIBLE OF WHAT IS INTENDED AND WHY.
MCLAREN
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
64
ΜΑΙΝ
60
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
PLANNERS
.(RESTRICTED)
RAD
LIMITED
HKD
PUSD
HD/FED
PS/LORD CAITHNESS PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
NEWS D
ADDITIONAL
4