TNAG-0315-FCO40-351-Legislation-for-corporal-punishment-in-Hong-Kong-and-for-the-1971 — Page 47

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FM HONG KONG 112945Z

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TC PRIORITY F.C.C. TELNO. 169 OF 11 MARCH 1971. PRIORITY INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LONDON OFFICE

CORRESPONDENCE RESTING WITH WONSON'S LETTER HKK 14/38 OF 7 JANUARY

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

1971.

YOU WILL HAVE RECEIVED BY NOW A COPY OF A MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE

AKKC14/16/CUNCIL CONCERNING THE CORPORAL FURISHMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1971,

WHICH PROPOSED RELATIVELY MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT CRDINANCE (CAP. 282) TO ENABLE A COURT TO IMPOSE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ON MALE PERSONS CF CR ABOVE THE AGE OF 16 FOR THE OFFENCES OF POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON, ASSAULT WITH INTENT TO ROB, AGGRAVATED BURGLARY, OR AFFRAY. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT CAN ALREADY BE 14PCSED ON MALES UNDER 16 ON CONVICTION OF ANY OFFENCE.

2. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISED THAT THE BILL

SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND IT IS INTENDED THAT THE BILL WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 12 MARCH, AND INTRODUCED INTO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 24 MARCH. THE CHIEF JUSTICE SUPPORTS THE BILL, WHICH IS A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE POWER TO AWARD CORPORAL PUNISHMENT TO OFFENCES AS SERICUS AS THOSE FOR WHICH SUCH

PUNISHMENT MAY AT PRESENT BE AWARDED.

3. THE PROPOSALS WILL BE GENERALLY WELCOMED BY A PUBLIC INCREASINGLY CONCERNED WITH THE DANTON VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

TRENCH

FILES

HKD

SIR L MONSON

MR ILFORD