TNAG-0400-FCO40-446-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 72

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5. IF WE SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDE ON A TEST OF OPINION YOU COULD ALWA

SAY THAT THIS HAD BEEN THE MAIN CONSIDERATION IN YOUR MIND.

6. ONE MUST EXPECT A STRONG REACTION HERE, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR

ME TO CONTAIN THIS IF WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE ON VERY SOON TO AN

ANNOUNCEMENT OF A TESTING OF PUBLIC OPINION. WHILE THEREFORE I

WILL TRY AND WORK OUT THE MECHANICS AND GENERAL FEASIBILITY OF

SUCH A TEST AS A MATTER OF GREAT URGENCY, I DO HOPE THAT YOU WILL ACCORD THE SAME PRIORITY TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER HMG WOULD FEEL BOUND BY THE RESULT AS POSED IN PARAGRAPH 3 (M.I.F.T). WITHOUT SUCH AN ASSURANCE IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH BETTER TO DICOURAGE

EXPRESSIONS OF PUBLIC OPINION HERE RATHER THAN TO SEEK THEM OR WE

WILL COURT A REALLY FIRST-CLASS CONFRONTATION BETWEEN HONG KONG

AND THE U.K.

7. SOME PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ABOUT A TEST OF OPINION ARE SET OUT

IN M.1.F.T.

MACLEHOSE

PRISE C

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