TNAG-0487-FCO40-552-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 74

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Since the informal understanding reached with Executive Council reported in my Tel. 365 of 25th March, in addition to other cases we have commuted two particularly bad murders. first was Wan Mui-mui and 3 others (Ex. Co. paper XCR (74)79) and the second Liu Chu (Ex. Co. paper XCR (74) 88). Both had particularly unpleasant features but the latter I am advised had no mitigating factors at all legally speaking.

2.

I want to let you know that in spite of the understanding I had a very rough ride on both these cases, members saying that while they appreciated the general factors I had described in March they insisted that substantive reconsideration of the whole issue should not be indefinitely delayed in Whitehall.

3.

I have a good deal of sympathy with their reaction on the merits of these two cases, but it is particularly understandable because of renewed press interest in the whole question of death sentences and criticism of recent commutations. The latter has been sparked off partly by the nature of the cases most recently reprieved, partly because of a recent series of murders, and partly because the last two MPs (Johnson and Ford) who visited here made a point of saying that they understood local feeling about the death sentences, and would represent this on their return to London.

4.

Against this background think I really must ask to discuss this issue with the Secretary of State personally during my visit.

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Sir Duncan Watson, KCMG

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