TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 171

Mr. Shaw (Gib. and Gen. Dept.)

25

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:

Death Sentence in Dependent Territories

I attach a copy of a minute which is under consideration in the context of the death sentence in Hong Kong. You will see from the penultimate paragraph that the Secretary of State has asked for a paper on the implications on the abolition of the death penalty in the Colonies. I should be grateful for a draft by Friday lunch time at the latest. It is important that we should have this for consideration by the Secretary of State over the weekend.

The paper should make clear:

(i) which Colonies still have the death sentence

(ii) where and when it has been used in the last

10 or 15 years

(iii)

what the likely attitude of the Colonial Governments, where it still exists, would be to the suggestion of abolition

(iv) what legal problems there are in abolition.

cc with enc. PS/PUS

Sir D. Watson

Mr.

Larmour

cc without enc. PS/Mr. Royle Mr. Wilford

Sir V. Evans Mr.

Stuart

(P. H. Grattan) 25 April, 1973

CONFIDENTIAL