TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 158

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AND LESS TO THE SUPREME COURT. HE HAS NO SUCH DISCRETION WITH REGARD TO ANY CASE WITCH CARRIES THE DEATH PENALTY AND ALL OF THESE MUST BE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRIED BY A SUPREME COURT JUDGE AND A JURY.

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7. THE SIGNATORIES PURPORT TO BASE THEIR OPPOSITION NOT ON ANY .ITIGATING FACTORS WITH REGARD TO TS01, NOR ON A FUNDAMENTAL DISTASTE FOR THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT PURELY ON THE GROUND THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE DEATH PENALTY WOULD BE LIKELY TO BE REIMPOSED IN SUITABLE CASES IN FUTURE.

2. IN SPITE OF THE DISCLAIMER IN THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF THE LETTER, THE GREAT MAJORITY OF THE SIGNATORIES ARE FIRMLY OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY ON PRINCIPLE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE INVOLVED.

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