TNAG-0487-FCO40-552-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 206

CRS 115

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 250630Z

ECRET RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52

26 MAR1974

64

SECRET

НКК

السلام

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

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

PKk3/48/10

Sub

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

FILE S

HKIOD

SIR D WATSON

MR WILFORD

MR YOUDE

MR RUSHFORD (LEGAL ADVISERS)

SECRET

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