TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 41

CONFIDENTIAL

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IMMEDIATE

GPS 209

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 14072ØZ

CONFIDENTIAL

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 525

MY TELEGRAM 523: TSOI.

• HKK 14/16

Анн

OF 14 MAY 1973

76

าจ

20 YEARS WOULD BE TOO LIGHT A SENTENCE FOR TSOI, THIS, LIKE SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE JUDGE'S REPORT TO ME, WAS ILL-CONSIDERED,

AND WOULD BE INADEQUATE IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER COMMUTED DEATH

SENTENCES IN THE LAST YEAR, THIS WOULD BE THE VIEW OF THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.

2. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES I SUGGEST YOU COMMUTE TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

3. I HAVE CONSIDERED WHETHER IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE THAT WHILE THE

APPEAL SHOULD BE UPHELD THE QUESTION OF ALTERNATIVE SENTENCE SHOULD

BE REMITTED BACK TO ME. BUT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES I WOULD PREFER THE

PROCEDURE IN PARAGRAPH 2. TO ASSIST MY ABILITY TO PICK UP THE

PIECES AFTERWARDS I SHOULD NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY PART IN THIS

DECISION.

4. IN VIEW OF PARA 3 THE QUESTION OF CONSULTATION WITH EX CO DOES

NOT ARISE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THEM WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT TOMRROW'S MEETING. I HOPE THEREFORE I MAY HEAR

FROM YOU BY 0800 HONG KONG TIME TUESDAY (2400 BST MONDAY).

MACLEHOSE

FILES HKIOD

PS

PS/PUS

SIR E NCRRIS

MR WILFCRD SIR D WATSON

CONFIDENTIAL