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Constitutional Progress
14.
There is a small but vociferous minority in Hong Kong, supported by a number of people in this country, who would like to see more progress in the Colony towards a more representative self-government.
However, the possibility of substituting any electoral process has been ruled out because of Chinese opposition to any move which could ·
be construed as setting Hong Kong on the road to independence: and because of conflicting political allegiances within the Chinese
population. The Chinese are known to be highly sensitive to the
risk that electoral processes might lead to the election of KMT
candidates, The Governor considers that the only way forward is to begin to alter the social composition of LegCo somewhat, by appointing a few local people from a wider social background.
Vietnamese Refugees
15. Another immediate problem is the resettlement of 4000 Vietnamese refugees who have been temporarily accommodated in Hong Kong since early May. We and the Hong Kong Government have approached some 20
other Governments on their behalf and we hope that by the end of this month only come 1200 refugees will remain to be resettled. HMG has been criticised in Hong Kong because we have not yet taken any of these Vietnamese desrite accepting a steady stream of Chilean refugees. Some 153 are awaiting a Home Office decision at present.
Death Penalty
16. The existence of the death penalty for murder in Hong Kong and the fact that the Secretary of State does not think that he could
carry the House of Commons in a decision to permit an execution to
take i lace in Hong Kong is a considerable irritant in our relations. Crime is considered the greatest social problem in the Colony and public opinion there still strongly favours the implementation of the death penalty. In fact, no death sentence has been carried out since 1966 because of expected difficulties in Parliament, although there was a particularly awkward situation in 1973 when the Governor had decided true 10.1... should take its course but the Foreign Secratury, in the belief that he could not carry Parliament, advised the queen to exercise her residual Prerogative of Mercy. This caused much
CONDIDENTAL
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