TNAG-0599-FCO40-747-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 101

A

Mr Jasper

23

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference. HKG 380/...

нка....380.....

Munntred issued re A.

J.J.27/5

DEATH SENTENCES IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1.

2.

Mr Blain's minute of 3 May 1973 and attachment refers.

My understanding of the last occasion on which death sentences were carried out in those dependent territories where the death penalty is still retained is as follows:-

(a) Belize: 1974 (according to the amendment made to the

list attached to Mr Blain's minute);

(b) Bermuda: 1943 (according to a recent confidential and

"The Times" personal letter from Mr Lloyd to Mr Stanley.

for 16 April this year also said that there had not been a hanging in Bermuda "for more than 30 years");

(c) British Virgin Islands: 1972 (Tortola personal telegram

no 11 of 4 May 1977);

(a) Cayman Islands:

(e) Hong Kong:

(f)

Montserrat:

1966

None between 1965 and 1970 (?1974);

1974 (according to the list attached to

Mr Blain's minute);

(g) Turks & Caicos:

Hone between 1965-1968);

3. If we were to be asked when executions were last carried out the territories where we would need to check the position would seem to be Belize, Caymans, Montserrat and the Turks & Caicos (we have up to date information on Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong). You might think it worthwhile to ask MCD and WIAD, as appropriate, whether they have reliable information for the four territories in question. I do not think we should telegraph the posts concerned at this stage.

4. Incidentally, I had understood at the time of the recent The men and enquiry about the position in the British Virgin Islands that we of Gad stated this were in a position to say that no death sentence has been carried out in a dependent territory for the past five years.

This is

this way the Losevidently not the case, assuming that the information about

JJ.

こうに

executions having taken place in Belize and Montserrat in 1974 is reliable.

27 May 1977

f. duille

D F Milton

Hong Kong & General Dept K 247

233 4381

CODE 18 - 17

7

CONFIDENΤΙΑΙ