TNAG-0486-FCO40-551-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

4.

. IT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP TO ME IN DEALING WITH THE EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL IF THE ANSWER TO 3 (A) COULD BE GIVEN ON ITS MERITS AND KEPT SEPARATE FROM 3 (B). THE COUNCIL IS COMPOSED OF

REASONABLE MEN WHO ARE AWARE OF POLITICAL REALITIES IN THE

U.K. BUT WILL RESENT ANY ATTEMPT TO BEND EITHER FACT OR THE

LAW TO SUIT THESE REALITIES.

* 7

5. SIMILARLY, I APPRECIATE THAT WHILE THE ANSWER TO 3 (A) MAY

BE AFFIRMATIVE, AS I BELIEVE IT TO BE IN THIS CASE, THHE AANSWERS TO 3(B)(1) AND (11) MAY DOTH BE NEGATIVE, BECAUSE, IF I HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE LAST PARAGRAPH OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 106, IT MIGHT BE

EQUALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE S OF S TO UPHOLD AN EXECUTION OR

TO OBOLISH THE DEATH SENTENCE. IF THIS IS THE CASE I WOULD BE GRATEFU

IF IT COULD BE STATED TO ME FRANKLY.

MACLEHOSE

FILES HKIOD

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

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CONFIDENTIAL