TNAG-0403-FCO40-449-Review-of-the-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 64

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CONFIDENTIAL

200

GRS 150 PRIORITY

CYPHER/CAT A

RECAVED I

RR. RYNo.51

FM F C O 021123Z

འང།

OCT 1973

CHITORY

REF

CONFIDENTIAL

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HICK 14/16

(183)

RLF.

182) (201)

TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 974 OF 2 OCTOBER, 1973,

YOUR TELEGRAMS NUMBERS 965 AND 997: DEATH SENTENCES.

1. WE DISCUSSED AND AGREED THE SUGGESTED PROCEDURE WITH YOU DURING

OUR TALKS IN LONDON. RECORD FOLLOWS BY BAG.

2*

ON THE QUESTION OF POSSIBLE FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH YOU

AFTER YOU HAD GIVEN ME PRELIMINARY WARNING OF YOUR LIKELY DECISION, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD NOT GET INTO A RUNNING ARGUMENT. BUT IF I DECIDE ON SUPPORT, I MUST BE ABLE TO ASSURE MY COLLEAGUES

THAT I PERSONALLY AM CERTAIN YOUR DECISION IS THE RIGHT ONE IN ALL

CIRCUMSTANCES. THE POSSIBILITY OF CONSULTATION MUST THEREFORE

EXIST.

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3. MIFT CONTAINS THE TEXT OF A DRAFT ORDER IN COUNCIL WHICH I

COULD PUT TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL IF I DECIDED ON ABOLITION. THIS

DOES NOT IMPLY THAT I WILL DO SO, BUT IF WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP TO YOUR SUGGESTED TIMETABLE, THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN HAVING

AN AGREED TEXT READY. GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMENTS OF YOUR LAW

OFFICERS.

DOUGLAS HOME

FILES

HRIOD

GIB AND CENL DEPT

LEGAL ADVISERS

PRIVATE SECRETARY

PS / PUS PS/MR ROYLE

CONFIDENTIAL