TNAG-0402-FCO40-448-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 7

CONFIDENTIAL

Secretary of State would respect the Governor's decision

rather than argue against it. Nevertheless the Secretary of

State will not wish to be precluded, for example, from making

sure that some particular consideration has been taken into

account.

SPEAKING NOTES

6.

Mr Royle will wish to:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Seek the Governor's agreement to the proposed

procedure.

Ask him to agree to consider any views from us

on a particular case between his first notifi-

cation to us and its consideration by Executive

Council.

Ask the Governor what he thinks the reaction is

likely to be in Executive or Legislative Councils

to a decision by HMG to abolish the death penalty

in Hong Kong. Would they be likely in those

circumstances to consider abolishing the death

penalty themselves?

At an earlier stage Hong Kong suggested that

retention of the death penalty might be considered

for certain specified crimes. The Governor should

be told that if HMG act they would wish abolition

to be total.

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

7 September 1973

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CONFIDENTIAL