(16941) Dd.897300 250m 9/72 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863
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CONFIDENTIAL
the next serious case arises (to change the law in
the immediate context of a particularly bad case
might be very damaging); (iii) take early steps to
change the law in Hong Kong by an Order in Council.
LINE TO TAKE
The Secretary of State will not wish to
recommend any particular course of action to his
colleagues but will wish to invite them to discuss
the alternatives fully.
SPEAKING NOTES
Although it would be neater and would help with
the situation in Hong Kong to abolish Capital
Punishment in all Dependent Territories, I hope you
will agree that HMG should respect the views of
those dependent territories where their legislative
assemblies have made their views on the retention
of the death penalty absolutely clear. That is all
dependent territories except Hong Kong and the New Hebrides (where we should run into great difficulties
with the French if we wished to change the law.
..)
If this conclusion is accepted then any possible
action would be specific and isolated to Hong Kong
and such differentation between Hong Kong and the
other territories would have to be defended in
Parliament on the grounds simply of the constitutional
position, e. that it is the only dependent territory where HMG still exercises straight Crown
Colony powers.
/The....
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