TNAG-0315-FCO40-351-Legislation-for-corporal-punishment-in-Hong-Kong-and-for-the-1971 — Page 32

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

FM F.C.0. 381100Z

CONFIDENTIAL

(HK)

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELMO 253 OF 33 MARCH

LAST

REF.

2

YOUR TELMO 291: CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

REF.

13

1. IN VIEW OF WHAT YOU SAY I AGREE THAT THE SCHEDULE TO THE

PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SHOULD BE AMENDED AS PROPOSED. IF NEW

LEGISLATION IS CRITICISED HERE WE SHALL HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT IT

HAS RECEIVED VERY WIDESPREAD PUBLIC SUPPORT IN HONG KONG,

HOWEVER I THINK IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE, NOT MERELY FOR THE SAKE OF

BRITISH PUBLIC OPINION, IF THE ADDITION OF OFFENCES INVOLVING

VIOLENCE COULD BE BALANCED AGAINST THE DELETION OF OFFENCES ALREADY

IN THE LIST, BUT NOT INVOLVING VIOLENCE, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF

YOU WOULD CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING SUCH AM AMENDMENT IN

THE CASE OF ROBBERY, FOR EXAMPLE.

2. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR FURTHER CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO THE

PROPOSAL TO EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO AMEND THE SCHEDULE

OF OFFENCES BY ORDER, I THINK IT IMPORTANT THAT ANY AMENDMENT OF

SCHEDULE SHOULD BE MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE, SINCE THIS PROCESS AFFORDS AN OPPORTUNITY OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION (SEE SECOND SENTENCE OF PARA 1).

DOUGLAS HOME

FILES

HKD

UND

PRIV SEC

PS TO MR ROYLE

SIR L MONSON

MR WILFORD DTSAU

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

5771

MIKK 14/10

· CONFIDENTIAL

>