TNAG-0522-FCO40-617-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 111

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DEATH PENALTY

6.

Mr Callaghan said that he wanted to congratulate

Sir Murray on the compromise that he had worked out with the Executive Council on the question of the death penalty. It remained the position that, with the current attitude of Parliament in the UK, there was no chance of a Secretary of State permitting the death sentence to be carried out in Hong Kong. Sir Murray MacLehose said that this would almost certainly be the first question he would be asked by the members of the press on his

return to Hong Kong and it was agreed that he might make the Secretary of State's position clear in reply to any questions.

7. The meeting concluded with Mr Callaghan congratulating Sir Murray on his achievements as Governor and on his policies for the Colony which appeared exactly right.

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

16 April 1975

Distribution

PS

PS/Mr Ennals

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

Sir D Watson

Mr Wilford

Mr Male

Mr McNally

Defence Dept.

FED

OLA

Legal Advisers G&GD

се

(Personal)

HE Sir Murray MacLehose KCMG MBE HONG KONG

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