TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 198

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Stuart (Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Dept.)

19

DEATH SENTENCES: HONG KONG

The Secretary of State has seen the attached papers and he discussed them briefly with Mr. Royle.

2.

The Secretary of State understands that the position is that no petition has yet been received and that the Governor was due to decide today whether the sentence should be carried out on 25 April. He also understands that the Legal Advisers are studying all the documentation in case a petition is received.

3. The Secretary of State assumes that if a petition were received between now and the execution date - even up to the last minute - that the execution would if necessary be postponed so that proper consideration of the petition and of the legal and other implications can take place. I imagine that there can be no doubt about this, but if you think that there is any doubt at all, the Secretary of State would like the point to be put to the Governor.

CC

PS/Mr. Royle

Sir Duncan Watson Sir Vincent Evans Mr. Wilford

(A. A. Acland)

18 April, 1973

CONFIDENTIAL