No. CONFIDENTIAL.
21
11
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONG KONG, 3rd February, 1933.
Sir,
(1)
With reference to my despatch No.466 of
the 13th October, 1932, on the subject of the trial
and conviction of Cheng Kwok Yau on a charge of
having been accessory before the fact to the murder (5) of George Fung and to your telegram No. 167 of 14th
December, 1932, I have the honour to inform you
that the case came before the Executive Council on
the 12th January when I was advised by a majority of
seven to two that the clemency of the Crown be not
exercised. I accepted the advice of the majority
and the execution was fixed for the 24th January.
During the succeeding week many petitions for mercy
were received one being from the foreman and one
member of the jury both of whom are Europeans of
standing in the Colony and one from the one Chinese
member of the jury.
2.
The case caused me much anxiety and I
decided to lay the matter again before the Executive
Council on the 19th January when after a full
discussion the Council again advised against the
exercise of clemency but by a majority of only five
to four.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
SIR P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER, G.B.E., M.C., M.P.,
3.
&c.,
&c.,
&c.