TNAG-0402-FCO40-448-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 79

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Registry No.

DEPARTMENT

HW

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIORITY MARKINGS

Flash

Immediate

Priority Routine

}"

(Date).....

* Date and time (G.M.T.) telegram should

reach addressee(s)....

Despatched

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

En Clair. Code Cypher

Draft Telegram to:-

No.

(Date)

And to:-

Repeat to:-

Saving to:-

[Se

Security classification' -if any

tion]

CONFIDENT IAL

[

Privacy marking -if any

1

[Codeword--if any]

Addressed to

telegram ................

And to

repeated for information to

Saving to..........

GOVERNOR HONG KONG

(date)

Personal for Governor/Trom Sir Duncan Watson

Your Telegrams 788 And 789: Death sentences

1. For your own information only at the moment,

Ministers have agreed to take no steps to abolish

the death penalty in Hong Kong against your clear

advice and the apparently strong desire of the

people of Hong Kong that it be retained. with explanation and qualifications follow.

2

Distribution:-

PS

PS/FUS PS/Mr Royle

Sir D Watson

Mr Wilford o r HCHKIOD

Gopies to:-

Hd G & GD Mr Rushford

Letters

I am also

I am writing to you by the next bag to

inform you officially of this decisien. sending you a personal assessment of the

implications underlying that decision.

Grateful

if you would take no action until you receive my

letters.

I look forward to discussing this with

A gentombeK.