TNAG-0401-FCO40-447-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 36

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HKKI 4/40

TO ROUTINE GOVERNOR HONG KONG TEL NO 567 OF 8 JUNE 1973.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 597.

1. KAN CAME TO SEE ME AND MR ROYLE ON 6 JUNE.

2. HE SAID THAT THE DECISION BY THE QUEEN ON HY ADVICE, IN THE TS01

CASE HAD CIVEL RISE TO CONSIDERABLE CONCERN, BOTH IN EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL AID AMONG THE PUBLIC IR HONG KONG. THE MILLION SIGNATURE

CAMPAIGN IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH PENALTY WAS UNDER WAY, KAN'S OWN

WORRIES WERE NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE TSOI CASE AS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS

NEXT. ABOUT SIX CASES WERE PENDING, NOTABLY THE ALLEGED DOUBLE

MURDER. THE FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY THE TSOI DECISION. IF THE DEATH PENALTY WAS ABOLISHED OR IF

AUTOMATIC REPRIEVES CONTINUED THE FEELING WOULD GET AROUND THAT

CRIMINALS COULD GET AWAY WITH IT. POLICE RECRUITEMENT COULD BE

AFFECTED. THE HONG KONG POLICE WERE STILL UNDER STRENGTH ALTHOUGH

THE RECRUITEMENT OF AUXILIARLY POLICE HAD IMPROVED. THERE WAS NO

DOUBT ABOUT THE VIEW OF THE CHINESE POPULATION. ABOLITION WOULD

CAUSE A HIGHLY SERIOUS SITUATION. IN HIS VIEW IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS

TO HAVE A REFERENDEUM, PARTICULARLY IF WE WISHED TO ABOLISH THE

DEATH PENALTY.

3. I EXPLAINED THAT THE TSOI CASE CAME AT A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT

TIME. IT COINCIDED WITH THE DEBATE ON NORTHERN IRELAND AND ON THE

GENERAL QUESTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY. THE HOUSE HAD BEEN IN A

HIGHLY EMOTIONAL STATE. I HAD NOT MADE UP MY MIND ON THE GENERAL

QUESTION. WE NOW NEEDED A BIT OF TIME TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT

THE ATTITUDE OF PARLIAMENT WOULD BE. I MUST NOW CONSULT VERY

CAREFULLY WITH MY COLLEAGUES. WHAT WOULD BE MOST DAMAGING-TO HONG

KOK'S LITERESTS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN PARLIAMENT ON

THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG. WE MUST PLAY THE WHOLE QUESTION VERY

COOL AND TAKE ALL THE TIME THAT WE LEEDED. THE QUESTION OF THE

DEATH PENALTY WAS UNIQUE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DESIRE TO CLIP

HONG KONG'S WINGS OR TO INTERFERE IN THE GENERAL CONDUCT OF HER

AFFAIRS.

14.

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