TNAG-0443-FCO40-508-Parliamentary-Question-regarding-visit-of-James-Callaghan--S-1974 — Page 23

GRS 115

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 250630Z

SECRET

SECRET

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 31

26 MAR 1974

HKK 1+/1

**23/548/10 ARCHING/10 TOR COPY

Colved to HKK14/1

LAST

REF.

NEXT

REF.

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 366 OF 25 MARCH. 1974.

ANSWERS TO P.Q.S ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN HONG KONG.

сору

IN GENERAL, I SUGGEST YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO STAND ON PARA K OF YOUR TEL 286, BUT OMITTING THE LAST SENTENCE WHICH ON REFLECTION COULD EMBARRASS ME AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

2. QUESTIONS TENDING TO FAVOUR OF ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY: THE

SUBSTANTIVE ANSWER SHOULD BE 'NO''. AND FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES:- (A) NO REQUEST FOR ABOLITION HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE

GOVERNOR.

(B) NO EXECUTION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT SINCE 1966.

(C) THIS IS A HIGHLY EMOTIVE ISSUE IN HONG KONG.

3. IN ANSWER TO QUESTIONS FAVOURING SUPPORT FOR THE LAW TAKING ITS COURSE. IT WOULD BE MOST IMPROPER TO ANSWER A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION ON THIS ISSUE.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKLOD

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD

MR YOUDE

MR RUSHFORD (LEGAL ADVISERS)

SECRET