TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 191

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Chinese population expects the law to be enforced.

The death penalty still exists in Hong Kong. In

1966, following the abolition in the UK for a

trial period, the Hong Kong Government decided

that the retention of the death penalty was

"closely bound up with public confidence in the

ability of the/Government to maintain public

order", but that it should only be carried out

carried in the most/extreme cases. In 1970, following

total abolition in the United Kingdom,/the

Governor was again asked to consider/the matter.

He replied that Executive Council had decided

that the existing policy in Hong Kong should not

be changed, and that suspension/for a trial

period would be inappropriate.

Despite the retention of the death penalty in

Hong Kong, however, no sentence of death has in

fact been carried out in the Colony since 1966.

Nevertheless pressure in Executive Council and

from the public of Hong Kong has been growing to

allow the law to take its course in cases where

there are no mitigating/ circumstances. In the

present case the Executive Council, without

dissenting voice and with only 2 abstentions,

advised that the Governor should not pardon or

reprieve the petitioner.

no

We are here concerned with

7

What is here at issue is not the laws and the

social and political circumstances of the United

with but t

Kingdom, but the very different situation in the

/Asian

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