TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 40

FLASH

CYPHER/CAT A

GRPS 120

FM FCO 146359Z

CONFIDENTIAL

64

(HK)

8

CONFIDENTIAL

(79) 0801113

TO FLASH HONG KONG TELNO 472 OF 14 MAY, 1973.

(63) (6)

YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS 515 TO 517: DEATH SENTENCE

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

1.

HKIL 14/16

LAM MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR VIEWS AND HAVE DECIDED TO SUBMIT TO THE QUEEN THAT TSOI SHOULD BE REPRIEVED. I AM ACTING ACCORDING TO THE TIMETABLE SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 515. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE SHOULD END AT 2203 HOURS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY WHAT PROCEDURE IN HONG KONG THE NEWS IS LIKELY TO BECOME PUBLIC AND AT WHAT TIME. NO ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE IN LONDON, BUT IF AFTER THE NEWS IS PUBLIC ANY QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED TO NEWS DEPARTMENT HERE THEY WILL CONFINE THEMSELVES TO THE CUSTOMARY FORMULATION.THIS IS THAT QUOTE THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS RECOMMENDED HER MAJESTY TO GRANT A CONDITIONAL PARDON COMMUTING THE SENTENCE OF DEATH TO ONE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT UNQUOTE. YOU WILL NOTE THAT THIS CONTAINS NO EXPRESSION OF HER MAJESTY'S REACTION. THIS IS LIMITED TO SIGNING AN INSTRUMENT OF PARDON.

2. 1 AGREE THAT NO REASON WHATEVER SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR MY

RECOMMENDATION.

DOUGLAS HOME.

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

HKIOD

LEGAL ADVISERS

GIBRALTAR & GENERAL DEPT:

NEWS DEPT:

CONFIDENTIAL