TNAG-0520-FCO40-615-Visit-of-Lord-Goronwy-Roberts--Parliamentary-Under-Secretary-1987 — Page 132

SECRET 高度機密

3

The

Parliament, and that it was a matter of

conscience for many individuals, and further that many members of Farliament sincerely felt that the death penalty was not an effective deterrent. But even in Britain a majority of people probably still favoured retention of capital punishment. In Hong Kong opinion in favour of retention was virtually unanimous. The Government Authorities in Hong Kong had a responsibility for maintaining law and order. Unless they were allowed to carry out the

death penalty in extremely serious cases the

maintenance of law and order must suffer.

Governor's discretion under the Royal Instructions

had been nullified for reasons of political considerations, and indeed his whole authority

in this matter as well as the authority of the

Courts had been undermined. Hon. Sir Sidney

GORDON emphasised the fact that Hong Kong being located in the Far East the practice pertaining in the region should be followed and not that which is prevailing in the United Kingdom. Hon. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN enquired whether the stand on reintroduction of capital

punishment in the U.K. had recently become more

flexible.

(ii) Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS stated that

in the U.K. the position had not become more flexible. There had recently been a debate in Parliament following the I.R.A. holocaust in Birmingham, and it had been expected that intense pressure would be brought to bear on H.M. Government to restore capital punishment

for certain offences. Surprisingly, however, there was no upsurge of public pressure at all. In the vote on the debate an increased majority

held the view that there should be no change.

/Ile

G.F. 316

SECRET 高度機密