TNAG-0554-FCO40-649-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 16

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TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TEL #0\443 OF 4 JUNE INFO SAVING PORT OF SPAIN. YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS 533 AND 543: DEATH SENTENCES

1. WE THINK THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE LINE YOU PROPOSE TO TAKE

FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES IN ANSWER TO ANY PRESS ENQUIRIES COULD BE

STRENGTHENED AND EXPANDED AS FOLLOWS:-

QUOTE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IS AN INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN STATE WITHIN

THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM HAVE NO

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, THE GOVERNOR-

GENERAL HAS POWER TO EXERCISE THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY IN THE

NAME OF AND ON BEHALF OF HER MAJESTY AS QUEEN OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. IN THE EXERCISE OF THIS POWER THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ACTS STRICTLY ON THE ADVICE OF MINISTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF

TRINIDAD AND TOBACO ACTING AFTER CONSULTATION WITH AN ADVISORY

COMMITTEE. UNQUOTE.

2. WE HAVE 10 COMMENTS ON THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF YOUR PROPOSED

ANSWER.

3. SHOULD YOU BE QUESTIONED FURTHER ON THE RECENT EXECUTION IN TRINIDAD, WE SUGGEST YOU SPEAK ON THE LINES SET OUT IN MIFT,

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