TNAG-0082-FCO40-118-Proposals-to-extend-the-death-penalty-1967 — Page 31

But these considerations do clearly indicate that, if we are to

oak Ministers to consider a measure on the lines of that referred to in your telegram No. 1310, we shall need to furnish in detail the arguments in favour of such a measure, and we shall need to show Ministers that there is no alternative that, in your judgment and ours, would be likely to meet the situation.

*

4. I am not sure whether you have available to you details of what was done in this context in previous emergencies elsewhere. In case you have not I enclose a note summarising the position in the Malayan, Kenyan, Cyprus and Aden emergencies. We thought it right also to look at the hodesian position as well, since

on a number of occasions Ministers have publicly castigated

hodesia as a Police tate and referred in very critical terms

to some features of its legislation; and despite the very obvious differences between the situation in Hong Kong and that in

hodesia we felt that Ministers would certainly wish to know how what they might be asked to approve for Hong Kong might compare with what was being done in Rhodesia. The position in Khodesia is governed by an Ordinance enacted in 196.... This provides the mandatory death penalty for offences of causing or attempting to cause by use of petrol, explosives etc.) injury, death or damage to (a) persons, (b) residential property, (c) other property and vehicles in which there were in fact persons present at the time of the offence (even though the accused did not know it), The

penalty for possession is 20 years, But we have seen a report in today's Times about an amending Bill to their Law and Order *aintenance Act which the Rhodesian regime have just published.

1 enclose a copy of the Times extract.

5. bviously the question to which Ministers will attach the

greatest importance wo ld be the probable effectiveness as a deterrent of extending the application of the death penalty on the lines set out in your telegram No. 1310. We realise that this is something which it is very difficult to demonstrate. But it would be extremely useful to have your assessment of the deterrent effect of such a course, if you have by now had any reactions from your. Executive Council or individual members it would be most helpful to

us to have that information as well. in this connection my own

personal