TNAG-0548-FCO40-643-Ministerial-briefs-for-meetings-with-Hong-Kong-press-1976 — Page 12

LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS'S MEETING WITH MR KEVIN SINCLAIR OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST - 10 DECEMBER 1975

BRIEF NO. 3: THE DEATH PENALTY

Line to Take

1. HMG is well aware of the resentment that the death penalty issue causes in Hong Kong. The Governor, during his visit to London last week, has again strongly represented the views of the Hong Kong Government on this issue both to the Secretary of State and to me.

2. The present situation is brought about by the balance in UK Parliament on the whole issue of capital punishment. It could therefore be said that the decision is as much out of the hands of the Secretary

of State as out of those of the Governor.

3.

Recent terrorist activities in the United Kingdom have once again

focussed attention on this issue. It is difficult to forecast the

outcome of the Private Members' Debate on Thursday, but it must be borne in mind that this debate will focus on the particular issue of terrorism in the United Kingdom. It may well not materially affect parliamentary opinion on the carrying out of the death penalty in Hong Kong.

4.

HMG has noted that the Governor's decision to impose an alter- native punishment of life imprisonment, save in exceptional circumstances, when commuting death sentences in future, has been well received in Hong Kong.

Defensive Points

Specific Reactions to the Governor's Recent Representations

5. We are naturally aware that the issue of the death penalty is a source of friction between HMG and Hong Kong and the position is there- fore kept constantly under review. We have therefore obviously noted very carefully what the Governor had to say.

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