TNAG-0486-FCO40-551-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 104

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESS WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN BUT THE COMMISSIONER DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE GONE INTO THE POINT), THAT MIGHT POSSIBLE HAVE RETURNED VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. IT IF IS SO IT MIGHT PROVIDE GROUNDS FOR COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE. THE HOME OFFICE ADVICE MIGHT ALSO BE BASED ON A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS SINCE IT SUGGESTS (IN THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARA 2) THAT IT WAS LIU CHU WHO ATTACKED THE SECOND TIME. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO CONSIDER THE ABOVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE HOME OFFICE'S SUGGESTION THAT THE ACCUSED MIGHT ANYWAY HAVE BEEN A DESPERATE MAN BECAUSE OF HIS EXTREME POVERTY.

3. GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ALSO COVER THIS ASPECT OF THE CASE WHEN COMMENTING ON THE OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS.

DOUGLAS-HOME

FILES

HKIOD

LEGAL ADVISERS PS

PS/PUS

FS/MR BLAKER

F

2 -

CONFIDENTIAL

$