TNAG-0402-FCO40-448-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 24

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(C) IF THE DECISION IS POSITIVE, WITHIN FIVE WEEKS (DURING WHICH THE CASE WILL NOT BE CIRCULATED TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL) THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL TAKE EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:-

OPTION A. NOTIFY THE GOVERNOR OF H.M.G.'S SUPPORT.

OPTION B. (1) DECIDE TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY, AND INSTRUCT THE GOVERNOR TO EXPLAIN HIS REASONS FOR THIS TO THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL AND SEEK THE COUNCIL'S CONCURRENCE.

(11) IN ANY CASE, AFTER ALLOWING THREE WEEKS FOR DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, ABOLISH THE PENALTY BY UNITED

KINGDOM ORDER IN COUNCIL.

4. IF THE DECISION IS FOR OPTION A IT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL THAT

H.M.G. SHOULD MAINTAIN ITS POSITION OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS. THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE 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 OPTION B. (DISTRIBUTION ON

INSTRUCTION OF ACTING GOVERNOR ONLY).

DOUGLAS-HOME

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LEGAL ADVISERS SIR D WATSON MR WILFORD

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