TNAG-0403-FCO40-449-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 31

GPS 100

PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 2606457

CONFIDENTIAL

(224

CONFIDENTIAL

iJick

14/10

1973.

TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 1356 OF 26 NOVEMBER.

YOUR TELEGRAM 927 OF 18 SEPTEMBER.

DEATH SENTENCE. LEUNG PING-FAT,

186

225

THIS CASE WAS NOT DISCUSSED IN ANY DETAIL WITH YOU BY THE GOVERNOR

IN SEPTEMBER.

2. WE THEREFORE DO NOT KNOW THE GROUNDS ON WHICH YOU SAY (IN THAT TELEGRAM) THAT COMMUTATION WOULD BE JUSTIFIED.

3. BEFORE THIS CASE, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT

THAN EXPECTED, AS LEUNG PING-FAT HAS ADMITTED IN HIS PETITION FOR

CLEMENCY THAT HE DID KILL THE DECEASED, IS CONSIDERED IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, I WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS REFERRED TO IN YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE.

4. A REPLY SENT BEFORE YOUR CLOSE OF PLAY ON THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER

WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKIOD

GIB & GD

LEGAL ADVISERS

LEGAL EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PS

PS/MR ROYLE

COPY TO: HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL