GRS 650A
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
FM HONG KONG 250602Z
SECRET
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52
26 MAR 1974
63
TOP COPY
HKK 14/1
SECRET
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELEGRAM NUMBER 365 OF 25 MARCH.1974
!
FOR SIR DUNCAN WATSON.
DEATH PENALTY.
LAST
REF
-60
NEXT
REF.
64
I HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING HOW TO FIND A WAY OF AVOIDING THIS
DISTASTEFUL AND EMOTIVE ISSUE BOILING UP AGAIN, BOTH BECAUSE OF :
THE EFFECT IT MIGHT HAVE ON LOCAL ATTITUDES TO THE U.K. AND ON
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC HERE, AND BECAUSE ANY WAY OUT OF THE PRESENT IMPASSE SEEMS SO FRAUGHT WITH PARLIA-
MENTARY DIFFICULTY. I HAVE ACCORDINGLY INITIATED TWO OF-THE-RECORD
DISCUSSIONS IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND ALSO SOME PRIVATE TALKS WITH
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
2. THESE SHOWED PREDICTABLE UNANIMITY THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF
HONG KONG REQUIRED THAT THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE USED, BUT VERY SPARINGLY AND ONLY IN THE VERY WORSE CASES, IE IN CASES OF MATURE MEN MURDERING IN THE COURSE OF ROBBERY OR KIDNAPPING OR TO
AVOID ARREST.
3. CONSEQUENTLY MEMBERS CANNOT SQUARE WITH THEIR CONSCIENCES SUPPORT FOR LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG TO ABOLISH THE SENTENCE. MOREOVER THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE GOVERNMENT'S
CREDIBILITY WITH THE PUBLIC WHICH IS VIRTUALLY UNITED IN WANTING
USE OF THE PENALTY.
SECRET
140
IN
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