TNAG-0403-FCO40-449-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 24

COFFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

fue 228

London SW1

J E Brennan Esq

Tome Office

Telephone 01-

Your reference

Our reference

Date

14/16

29 November 1973

LAST

R

209

Re

HONG KONG: DEATH SENTENCES

209

•

212

227

(225)

In his letter of 22 October about Lam Po, Andrew Stuart explained the procedure that had been agreed for cases where the death penalty has been imposed and the Governor decided that the law must take its course. You very kindly replied on 25 October.

2..

We now have another difficult case on which the Governor will shortly have to make a decision. Leung Ping Fat was convicted on 22 January 1973; his appeal was dismissed by the Full Court in liong Kong on 9 May 1973. I enclose a copy of a memorandum and related papers which will be discussed by the Executive Council on 1 December. They will then advise the Governor whether or not they think the death sentence should be commuted. I also attach a copy of a telegram we have sent to the Governor giving our views on the case. It is made more difficult because the prisoner retracted his confession, but in his petition has now admitted that he killed the victim.

3.

I should be most grateful if you could let us have, very urgently, any comments the Home Office experts may have on this case. Perhaps you would be kind enough to return the papers with your reply. I do apologise for trespassing on your time again, but as you know the death penalty is a highly sensitive issue for us.

Enc

R B Crowson Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department

Пойа B. J.

3.12.23.

L

2..