TNAG-0375-FCO40-421-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 32

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

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret.

Secret,

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

Day

In Confidence

SECRET

24/515

DRAFT

RECORD OF CONVERSATION Type 1 +

FROM

To:-

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

Advance Distrib-

ution

PS/MR Royle PS/PUS

PS (2)

Sir D. Watson Mr Youde

HKIOD to enter

RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE FOREIGN AND

COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG

HELD AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON

FRIDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 1973

Present:

Mr Robinson

(ref para 10 EID (para 10) Mr Holland

(para 11)

Mr Marshall

712

(para11, 12)

Mr Rushford

(para 13-15

Mr Wilford

(para 16)

Mr Evans (para 16

Sir M. MacLehose

and had agreed that it was

important

The Rt Hon Sir Alec Douglas-

Home KT MP

Mr A Royle MP

Sir D Greenhill GCMG OBE

Sir D Watson KCMG

Mr A A Acland

Mr A C Stuart

DEATH PENALTY

His Excellency

Sir Murray MacLehose KCMG MBE

1. Sir Alec Douglas-Home said that Ministers had

taken a clear decision not to abolish the death

penalty in the dependent territories, and to support

the Governor of Hong Kong when he decided that the

law must take its course. Nevertheless, when a case

had to

did arise, we must be certain that it was a very bad

one. He would then have to be prepared to justify

his support for the Governor in Parliament, to stick

if necessam

to this line and to put his reputation at stake.

But he could not bind the Government to maintain

this policy for any fixed period. No government

SECRET

/could