TNAG-0401-FCO40-447-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 42

although the recruitment of auxiliary police

had improved.

There was no doubt about the

view of the Chinese population.

Abolition

In

would cause a highly serious situation.

his view it would be dangerous to have a

referendum, 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 debates on Northern Ireland and on the

general question of the death penalty. The

House had been in a highly emotional state, and

there had lacers mat dangas of a political stom

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 Kong's interests 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 needed.

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.

4.

The

I asked, but without commitment, what

opinion in Hong Kong would be if imprisonment

that really was for life, was substituted for the death penalty. Y K Kan replied that this

would not deter Chinese criminals. The double

/murderer

032717 E.W.& S., Ltd. 164m 3/67.

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