TNAG-0488-FCO40-553-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 49

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REGISTRY Mo..

· FM HONG KONG 1005407

10 OCT 1974

CONFIDENTIAL

NICKY

TO ROUTINE F C O TELNO 1009 OF 10 OCTOBER.1974

FOR STUART.

LAST

REF.

(124)

YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 862 OF 7 OCTOBER:

NEXT

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DEATH PENALTY.

I AM AFRAID THAT I STILL PREFER THE VERSION IN PARAGRAPH 3

OF MY TELEGRAM NO. 986 OF 3 OCTOBER.

2. THE ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTED IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF YOUR TELEGRAM

UNDER REFERENCE SEEMS TO INTRODUCE A NEW APPROACH. I SEE THE

PETITIONERS AS SEEKING AN INSTRUCTION THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD

NOT EXERCISE THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY NOT THAT EXECUTION

SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT AFTER THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY HAD BEEN

EXERCISED.

3. YOUR VERSION SUGGESTS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR AN EXECUTION

TO BE CARRIED OUT AFTER THE GOVERNOR HAS EXERCISED HIS PREROGATIVE OF MERCY, BY DIRECTION OF HER MAJESTY. SURELY THIS IS NOT CORRECT?

MACLEHOSE

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MIKIOD (4)

G & G D

PUD

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PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS.

SIR D WATSON

MR MADE