TNAG-0375-FCO40-421-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 25

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

DRAFT

To:-

Type 1 +

FROM

File

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

من المعا

for our

On

In Confidence

P.W.

keep this

our own record.

MEETING BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR OF

Sir D Watson

Mr Wilford

Mr Stuart

Mr Crowson

we read or should curtate is reflection I do not think

Mr Show

I dis

We spoke. not attouff to the

~

19/9

comflete record. I have not recorded 19 the discrasion

shout comminications How the Henry Kay Gove Office (but woull

مستدام

carily do 20) since

I understand that

you

are already taking rcton on the fring R.b. hovo

12/9

HONG KONG AND

FCO OFFICIALS

3 pm

11 SEPTEMBER 1973

PRESENT

Sir Murray MacLehose Mr Wright

Discussions mainly elaborated subjects discussed

during the meeting with Mr Royle earlier on the same

day.

made

Salient points raised included the following:

(a) Death Penalty

Sir Murray MacLehose said that, from his

point of view, the worst outcome would be for the law

to be changed after an execution had taken place.

Are

There would bound to be some protest, after an execution

as well

in Hong Kong such as in Britain. Although it would

not be representative of opinion in the Colony, it

vocal

the

would be made by people such as Bishops, liberal

expatriates, etc. If the law were to be changed,

this

would be seen as a result of pressure from these

people, whose advice to the Secretary of State would

therefore appear to be of more account than that of

In addition

the Governor in Council. Apart from this, Sir Murray

MacLehose said that he could not accept the personal

aberratio

responsibility of signing a death warrant for one man

if this were to be seen as an abherration in policy.

/Consequently

(3001) Dd. 145244 400m 8/73 L.Ltd. Gp.839

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.