TNAG-0555-FCO40-650-Review-of-death-sentence-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 57

Private Secretary

SECRET

luntary & Mate

46

HONG KONG DEATH PENALTY

1. Lord Goronwy-Roberts has deleted the sentence in the telegram attached to this submission which states that HMG have agreed to give the restoration of the death penalty further consideration, since it suggests that a change is on the way, which he does not think to be the

case.

2.

In addition, he has minuted:

"When Sir Murray Maclehose comes here for talks, it would help Ministers to have before them:

(i) statistics on the incidence of capital crimes

over the past few years in Hong Kong

(ii) details of alternative penalties imposed, including

lengths of sentences imposed and actually served

(iii) the practice in other dependencies and the

basic constitutional arguments for variations between them.

(iv) the practice in the People's Republic of China."

Ichial

4 November 1975

c.c. Sir D Watson

Mr Male

A C Galsworthy Private Secretary

Mr Rushford

Mr Milton (HKIOD) Mr Whiten (G&BD)

SECRET