TNAG-0486-FCO40-551-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 91

CONFIDENTIAL

OPS 200

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 180735Z

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52

19 FEB1974

~ICK 1411

TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 225 OF 18 FEBRUARY. 1974

MY TWO IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING TELEGRAMS.

DEATH PENALTY: LIU CHU.

FOR STUART HKIOD.

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 159.

NE

KEF.

1. YOUR PARA 1: UNDERSTOOD.

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2. YOUR PARA 2: PERHAPS WE COULD USE THE TIME TO AGREE THE POSITION ON FACT AND LAW 1.E. PARA 3 (A) OF M.1.P.T.

3. IN MY PERSONAL VIEW THE ONLY REALISTIC GROUND FOR COMMUTATION.

MAY LIE IN THE PRISONER'S HISTORY OF ADDICTION. IT IS TRUE THAT

NEITHER THE MEDICAL NOR PSYCHIATRIC ADVICE, NOR THE DEFENCE NOR THE COURT, SAW ANYTHING IN THIS. HOWEEVER SINCE THERE IS PROBABLY MORE EXPERTISE ON THIS SUBJECT AS IT AFFECTS HONG KONG ADDIICCTSS,

IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES AND DR CHOA), I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF I

CLEARED UP THIS POINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. IF THE DOCCTORS, WHO ARE MOST LIBERAL MEN,-

INDICATE THEY WOULD BE LIKELY TO RECOMMEND COMMUTATION

ON THIS GROUND IT WOULD BE A RELIEF TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THIS ISSUE

FROM POST-ELECTION PERIOD. IF NOT WE WILL AT LEAST KNOW WHERE WE STAND AND CAN CONSIDER HOW TO APPROACH MINISTERS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKIOD

GIB & GEN D LEGAL ADVISERS PS/MR BLAKER SIR D WATSON MR YOUDE

CONFIDENTIAL