TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 200

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B

17

GPS 350

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

GPS 350

FM HONG KONG 190425Z

NXX INC.

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TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 422 OF 19 APRIL.. 73

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MY TELEGRAM 387: DEATH SENTENCE.

TSOI HAS EXERCISED HIS RIGHT TO PETITION HER MAJESTY FOR MERCY,

THE PETITION AND MY COMMENTS ON IT ARE IN BAG NUMBER A30 ARRIVING LONDON ON 20 APRIL. NATURALLY NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN HERE PENDING YOUR REPLY TO THE PETITION, BUT I WOULD OF COURSE BE GRATEFUL IF THIS WERE HANDLED AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS THE SUBJECT AND CIRCUMST«

ANCES PERMIT.

2, AS THE LAW STANDS THERE APPEARS TO ME TO BE NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE LAW TAKING ITS COURSE WHEN THERE ARE NO MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES OF ANY SORT. THIS IS SUCH A CASE, IT IS THE FIRST SUCH CASE SINCE 1 HAVE BEEN HERE. THE MURDERER STABBED TO DEATH! A YOUNG AUXILIARY POLICEMAN WHO WENT TO THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS MOTHER WHO WAS BEING ROBBED BY THE MURDERER. THE LATTER WAS 28 YEARLS OLD, AND WAS NOT SUFFERING FROM ANY DEGREE OF DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY. IT WAS NOT A PREMEDITATED OR PLANNED MURDER, BUT MURDER RESULTED FROM THE RECKLESS USE OF A LETHAL WEAPON IN FURTHERANCE OF ROBBERY. IT IS THE GROWTH OF THE LATTER TYPE OF POTENTIALLY MURDEROUS ASSAULT

THAT AT PRESENT IS A MATTER OF SPECIAL CONCERN TO THE PUBLIC AND

THE COVERNMENT,

3. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME DEEPLY AND SINCERELY MOVED, BUT PREDOMINANTLY EXPATRIATE, ABOLITIONISTS, THIS PREDOMINANTLY CHINESE POPULATION EXPECTS THE LAW TO BE ENFORCED. THE ADVICE OF THE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WAS UNANIMOUS WITH TWO ABSTENTIONS,

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