TNAG-0554-FCO40-649-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 29

GRS 220

PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 270925Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVEL REGISTRY Nu,

27 MAY 1975

Ilin. Dimmidely

Th

ე.

18

TO PRIORITY F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 530 OF 27 MAY.

LAST

ALF.

21,

16.

會

PERSONAL FROM GOVERNOR.

A

· I HAVE TODAY COMMUTED THE SENTENCES OF DEATH PASSED ON MAN KAM-WAH, HO KWAI-WAH, MAN KAM-HOI, MAN KAN-TONG, CHOI CHI-KIN, TSE TAI-TUNG AND CHAN HUNG TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT. ONE OFFICIAL AND ALL EIGHT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ABSTAINED.

2. THIS WAS THE WORST CASE I HAVE KNOWN, THE 7 MEN WERE

MEMBERS OF AN ARMED AND RUTHLESS GANG WHICH ROBBED A NUMBER

OF BANKS IN 1973. THE MURDER AROSE FROM A BANK ROBBERY IN WHICH REVOLVERS WERE USED AND HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN. ALL

SEVEN WERE CONVICTED OF MURDERING A POLICE SERGEANT WHEN

MAKING THEIR ESCAPE.

3. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS MADE IT CLEAR THAT UNDER OTHER

CIRCUMSTANCES THEIR ADVICE THAT THE LAW SHOULD TAKE ITS COURSE WOULD HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUS. REALISING THAT SUCH ADVICE WOULD

PLACE ME, AND H.M.G., IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION THEY

PREFERRED TO ABSTAIN AS THEY FELT ADVICE TO COMMUTE INCOMPATIBLE

WITH THEIR OATH OF OFFICE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT TECHNICAL GROUNDS

FOR COMMUTATION MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED IF THERE HAD BEEN

ANY REAL POSSIBILITY OF AN EXECUTION. NEVERTHELESS MEMBERS'

ABSTENTION WAS INTENDED AS A DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR EXTREME

DISAPPROVAL OF THE FRUSTRATION OF THE LAW, AND SHOULD BE SO TAKEN.

4. DR S.Y. CHUNG MENTIONED THE RECENT EXECUTION OF MICHAEL X

IN TRINIDAD. HE THOUGHT THAT THE HONG KONG PUBLIC MIGHT FIND

IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE QUEEN REJECTED A PETITION

CONFIDENTIAL

/ FOR