TNAG-0401-FCO40-447-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 15

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

CONFIDENTIAL

time would have exposed us to severe criticism

possible

and a vote of censure. After seeking

clarification of some of the issues involved, from the Governor I therefore advised The

Queen to reprieve the Hong Kong murderer.

4. This creates a problem for the future. There is no doubt that Chinese opinion in Hong Kong is overwhelmingly in favour of the

death penalty. The number of those who support abolition is small. They are mainly expatriates but include the Bishops. The Unofficial

Members of Executive and Legislative Council,

although not elected, support the popular view. They would reject a bill to abolish the death

not sentence in Hong Kong.

Ner

r/could we expect

the Governor to force a bill through with the official majority and still to govern

effectively. Action therefore must rest with

us here. There are three possible courses: ef

getjem

a)

If we decide to leave the law of Hong Kong

if necessary as it is I could still advise The Queen to

grant a reprieve.

repeated

But departures from the long-

established rule that the Secretary of State would not advise Her Majesty to intervene unless there had been a manifest miscarriage of justice or new evidence, could only lead to recurrent

crises with Hong Kong, which would be very

damaging.

If, therefore, we do nothing I CONFIDENTIAL

/believe

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