TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 138

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vie execution Lii che piación Virgin islega ó

in 1972.

(d) Between 4 and 7 executions per annum between

1956 and 1962 in Hong Kong; then 2 executions

in 1966 and none since.

(e)

4 executions in Montserrat

>

(E)

The last execution in the Turks and Caicos

Islands probably took place about 5 years ago.

(g)

There have been no recent executions in Bermud:!,

Cayman Islands, New Hebrides and Seychelles.

Likely attitude in the dependent territories to the

suggestion of abolition

The Goverments of dependent territories were

invited to consider the question of capital punislao mt

in 1965 at the time of the beginning of the trial

period of abolition in Britain and in 1970 at the time

of abolition. The response showed a strong current

of opinion in favour of retaining the death penalty

in the Caribbean dependencies and in Hong Kong and

the Seychelles. It seems unlikely that this action

has changed in the last 3 years, although it sour!

territories public opinion may have been influenced

by a progressive abolition of the death penalty her.

In more detail the position is as follows:

(a)

(b)

(c)

In the Bahamas, Ministers would not welcome

abolition before the country's independence

this July.

Members of the Dermuda cabinet would probably

oppose abolition, particularly in present

circumstances.

Members of the legislature în British Honduras

and in the Cayman Islands and members of the

Legislative Council in Montserrat would be

/likely

CONFIDENTIAL