TNAG-0600-FCO40-748-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 63

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PRIORITY

CYPHER CAT A

FM FCO 061144Z

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

нка 380/1

TO PRIORITY HAMILTON TELNO PERSONAL 27 OF 6 SEPTEMBER

YOUR TELEGRAM PERSONAL NO 25

FOR DEPUTY GOVERNOR FROM HKG D

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CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

1, WE CAN CONFIRM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S UNDERSTANDING OF

THE POSITION AS REGARDS TACKLYN'S APPLICATION AS EXPRESSED

IN THE FIRST TWO SENTENCES OF PARAGRAPH 1 OF YOUR TEL UNDER REF,

2. WE NOTE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE TO FIX AN EXECUTION DATE

WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY IF TACKLYN'S APPLICATION IS REFUSED. BY THAT STAGE, HOWEVER, IT IS AT LEAST POSSIBLE THAT THE INTER- DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIAL COMMITTEE WHICH HAS BEEN SET UP TO ADVISE /

MINISTERS ON FUTURE POLICY WITH REGARD TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES (MY TELEGRAM PERSONAL NO 76. TO BELMOPAN) MAY HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT ON WHAT COURSE OF ACTION TO RECOMMEND. (IT WILL BE MEETING AGAIN IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 12 SEPTEMBER). IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT MINISTERS WOULD SHORTLY THEREAFTER REACH

DECISIONS. IT WAS, AS YOU KNOW, THE DEATH SENTENCES PASSED ON TACKLYN AND BURROWS AND THE ADVICE ON THEIR CASES SUBSEQUENTLY

GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR PREROGATIVE OF MERCY COMMITTEE THAT HAS LARGELY PROMPTED THE REVIEW OF POLICY AND THE FACT THAT THE

JUDICIAL COMMITTEE IS EXPECTED TO HEAR TACKLYN'S APPLICATION ON

6 OCTOBER SHOULD ACT AS A FURTHER SPUR TO THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE'S

WORK. DEPENDING THEREFORE ON THE STATE OF PLAY AT THIS END AFTER

THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN ITS RULING, IT MAY BE THAT WE

WOULD WISH TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU COULD POSTPONE

FIXING A DATE FOR TACKLYN'S EXECUTION. WE IMAGINE THAT THIS MIGHT

BE LESS DIFFICULT TO CONTRIVE IN THE ABSENCE, AS WE ASSUME IS THE

CASE OF STRONG LOCAL PRESSURE IN FAVOUR OF AN EARLY. EXECUTION.

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