TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 53

resulting from the reckless use of a lethal weapon

in furtherance of robbery.

In the light of the strong feelings expressed in

the recent Parliamentary debate on the death penalty

and in view of the likely imminent abolition of the

penalty in Northern Ireland, Sir Alec Douglas-Home

thinks that he must now consider with his colleagues

whether the death penalty can be retained in Hong

Kong, a territory where the legislature is not and

cannot be elected. In all these circumstances

therefore Sir Alec Douglas-Home advises that

Your Majesty should accept the petition of the prisoner

a nd that the sentence should be commuted to one of

20 years imprisonment.

ARAND "S

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN