TNAG-0402-FCO40-448-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

E)

THE POSSIBLE COURSES TO BE TAKEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARE;-

COURSE 1, NOTIFY THE GOVERNOR OF H.M.G.'S SUPPORT FOR AN EXECUTION

COURSE 2. DECIDE TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY IN HONG KONG, INSTRUCTING THE GOVERNOR TO EXPLAIN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S REASONS FOR THIS TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND TO SEEK THAT COUNCIL'S CONCURRENCE.

(F) IF COURSE 2 IS ADOPTED, THEN THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE ABOLISHED BY U.K. ORDER IN COUNCIL, AFTER ALLOWING 3 WEEKS FOR DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

(9) IF THE DECISION IS TO ADOPT COURSE 1 AND SUPPORT A DECISION TO CARRY OUT AN EXECUTION, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT H,M,G, SHOULD MAINTAIN THE SAME POSITION FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF YEARS, THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH SENTENCE BY H.M.G., AFTER AN UPROAR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOLLOWING AN EXECUTION IN HONG KONG, WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY MORE DAMAGING EVEN THAN COURSE 2,

FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

NORMAN WALKER

FILES

HKIOD

COPIES TC:

GIB & GEN D

HK GOVT OFFICE LONDON

LEGAL ADVISERS FS

SIR E NORRIS MR LARMOUR SIR D WATSON

CONFIDENTIAL