TNAG-0445-FCO40-510-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 47

(17865) Dd.145178 400m 5/73 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

For Confidential

last year Sir Alec Douglas-Home advised The Queen to use Her residual Frerogative of Mercy to reprieve a Hong Kong murderer who would otherwise have hanged.

6.

The Governor has been able to persuade his Executive Council to acquiesce in reprieves in all

subsequent cases. But this has rested on no more than his own statement to them of his belief that

HMG would not countenance another execution. If he

is to hold them to this line he needs confirmation fro

us that his judgment is correct. Even this may not be enough to persuade Executive Council, and I fear

that sooner or later we shall be faced with a con-

flict on the point between Hong Kong and the UK.

7.

Meanwhile, I think that we should also

explore with him the possibility of tightening up

penal sanctions other than the death penalty, to help him cope with the very real problem of rising crime, particularly violent crime, in Hong Kong, and,

demörd

margin ally пориват

8.

ab

least. for the

t death penally.

blunt

the

ཨིན་ཅིག་ ༈༙

the

Other subjects which the Governor may wish to raise with you are Hong Kong and the EEC, and the current Defence Review. Your statement on 4 June has

been very well received in Hong Kong and I am sure that we should keep up the pressure for improvements to the Community's arrangements for Hong Kong, particularly the Generalised Preference Scheme.

9.

The Defence Review will be difficult. There is

pressure in Whitehall for all troops to be removed from the non-NATO area. But whether we like it or not, we remain responsible for the internal security of Hong Kong. The Governor believes, and I agree, that the military must make a professional judgment of the size of garrison that is now needed to back up the police. TXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Only when that is established

should we discuss the scope of reductions in the garrison. Thereafter we can discuss with the Hong Kong Government the possibility of their meeting a greater proportion of the cost. The Governor believes that,

/provided

STI Curb.