HKC 025/1
Mr Stewart, Hong Kong and General Dept
In Quatull w Sexper
W
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I wanted like
Now see fun of Mushum to discus
3 mmut of 9.12/77. Jqhz, a sap
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1. You are I understand preparing follow-up action in the
>
light of yesterday's discussions in the House of Commons.
may already have the following in mind, but if not please
consider: -
a.
b.
You
A further circular to Governors of the remaining colonies
who still retain the death penalty urging that local
governments once again reconsider the abolition of the
death penalty in the light of discussions in the House
yesterday.
Instructions to Governors in the light of a. above that
we shall need to consider very carefully the local security
iplications before allowing any death sentences to be
carried out. Ministers will clearly be most reluctant
REGISTRYt be faced again with what happened in Bermuda.
RECEIVED IN PODISTRY NO. 51 1 3DEC 1977
DESK OFFICER
WDEX
PA
JJ.
"REVIEW OF PROICY
Action Taken
The
law as specified in Bermuda was carried out but we had so
pick up the pieces following actions over which we had
no control.
ACERLAND DECOLONGATE also think that we need to reconsider in the light of
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all this our current policies on decolonisation. Responsibility
without power is surely the first thing we should try to avoid.
How far have we already gone in granting internal self
government without retaining the power to veto actions which.
could affect internal security for which we retain
responsibility? In the Turks and Caicos we have prevented
the Casino going ahead until appropriate gaming laws have
been passed on grounds of our responsibility for internal
CONFIDENTIAL
/security
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