TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 139

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NOTHING TO DE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

likely to oppose abolition.

(d) Support for the death sentence is very strong

in the Fish Virgin Islands;es there were administrations against the Governor last month for commuting a death sentence against the

advice of local Ministers.

(e)

(£)

Members of the Executive Council in Hong Kong

oppose a trial period of abolition in 1970 and

attitudes have hardened in recent years.

A motion in the Seychelles Assembly last month. called for the use of the death penalty for

bomb explosions resulting in death of one of

more people.

Possible courses of action to abolish or cuspend the

death sentence throughout the territories

can be divided between Legislative and Administra

measures

(a) Legislative action.

(i)

to initiate the introduction of local legisl ́an

in each dependent territory.

(ii) to pass an Act of Parliament at Vesminator

applying to the dependent territories.

(iii) to change local law by an Order in Council mod

in respect of cach territory.

(b) Administrative action.

(i) to advise The Queen to mend the Letters

or Orders in Council delegating to the Govegrens

the

the exercise of prerogative of mercy and the

:

formal instructions repriever',

(ii) to intimate to the Governors by despatch that

they should grant reprieves in all cases,

CONFIDENTIAL.

/(iii)