TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 110

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GR100

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

FM FCO 031000Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL,

(HK)

AKK14/16

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG (PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR) TEL NO 432 OF 3 MAY. 1973

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM SECRETARY OF STATE.

1. IN CONSIDERING WHAT ADVICE I SHOULD TENDER TO THE QUEEN I HAVE

@+ $2) RE-READ YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS 422 AND 458. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE CARE

WITH WHICH YOU HAVE CONSIDERED THE MATTER.

2. BEFORE I FINALLY DECIDE I WOULD LIKE YOUR VIEWS ON WHETHER IT

CAN REASONABLY BE HELD THAT BECAUSE THE PENALTY HAS NOT BEEN APPLIED

FOR 7 YEARS ITS APPLICATION COULD HAVE FALLEN INTO DESUETUDE ?

I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR FURTHER THOUGHTS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HKI OD

NEWS DEPT

PRIVATE SECRETARY

P.S./PUS

PS/MR ROYLE

SIR E NORRIS

MR WILFORD

CONFIDENTIAL