GRS 500
EN CLAIR
FM HONG KONG 290408Z
UNCLASSIFIED
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.52
-1 JUL1974
skt {y|
TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 707 OF 29 JUNE. 197
FOLLOWING FOR CROWSON (HKIOD).
TOP COPY
GOVERNOR GAVE SHORT PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, HEREWITH TEXT OF ANSWERS HE GAVE TO QUESTIONS ON DEATH PENALTY AND DEFENCE
REVIEW.
DEATH PENALTY
Coher в никоја вазия
Q3 4
Q: DID YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION FROM THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE DEATH PENALTY?
A: NO, I DID NOT. I STRESSED TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF AND TO OFFICIALS HOW STRONGLY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FEEL ABOUT THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT I DID NOT DETECT ANY DIFFERENCE IN VIEW. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT POLITICAL MATTER FOR ANY GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED
KINGDOM AT PRESENT.
Q: DO YOU THINK THIS ATTITUDE IS INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT THE LABOUR PARTY HAS A VERY SMALL MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AND DO YOU THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE IF THERE WERE A PARTY IN POWER WITH A LARGER MAJORITY?
A: TIME COULD CHANGE THIS CERTAINLY BUT THE CLIMATE OF OPINION IN THE NOUSE OF COMMONS AT THE MOMENT IS VERY STRONGLY AGAINST THE USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY AND THIS APPLIES TO BOTH PARTIES,
DEFENCE REVIEW:
Q: DID YOU HOLD ANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE FUTURE STRENGTH OF THE
HONG KONG GARRISON?
A: THERE IS
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