IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
GPS 200
- ›› SECRET
673
FM F.C.0. 170935Z
NXK 14/16
Tor Curl
94
(UK)
64
SECRET
TO IMMEDIATE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 483 OF 17 MAY,
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 536:
DEATH SENTENCES.
1973.
860
(106) (108)
1. I MUST NOW TAKE A LITTLE TIME, IN THE LIGHT OF PARLIAMENTARY
FEELING, TO CONSIDER WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHAT OUR FUTURE LINE OF
POLICY SHOULD BE IN RESPECT OF BOTH HONG KONG AND OTHER DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES WHERE THE DEATH PENALTY IS MAINTAINED.
2. AS YOU INDICATED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO 516, THERE ARE OBVIOUS
PROBLEMS FOR US IN THE IDEA OF A TEST OF PUBLIC OPINION IN
HONG KONG IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES MENTIONED
IN MY TELIO 460.
3. I SHOULD LIKE SOME IDEA OF THE TIME SCALE TO WHICH WE NEED TO
WORK AS FAR AS A DECISION FOR HONG KONG IS CONCERNED. GRATEFUL THEREFORE FOR YOUR EARLY VIEWS ON THIS AND FOR AN INDICATION OF FURTHER CASES LIKELY TO COME UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WHAT STAGE
THEY HAVE REACHED.
# THERE IS OF COURSE THE CASE OF CHAN KAM-WAH WHICH HAS YET TO
BE CONSIDERED BY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. WE HAVE NOT YET LET YOU HAVE
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS CASE ALTHOUGH WE DID DISCUSS WITH HOBLEY WHEN
HE WAS HERE LAST WEEK. WE ALSO DISCUSSED WITH ROBERTS WHO EXPECTED
THAT YOU WOULD REPRIEVE CHAN, ON FACTS OF THE CASE. GRATEFUL TO
KNOW WHETHER THIS IS YOUR VIEW AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER YOU HAVE TO
BRING HIS CASE TO EXCO.
DOUGLAS-HOME
FILES
MIOD
GIB & GD
LEGAL ADVISERS
NEWS D
MR WILYORD
MR LARMOUR
SKA D VATSON
SUCRET
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