TNAG-0600-FCO40-748-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 79

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not be condoned by the British Government.

III. IMPLICATIONS IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

9.

Governors of the territories concerned were asked to

give an assessment of the current state of public opinion

in their territories on the issue of capital punishment.

They were unanimous in saying that the removal of the death

penalty would be controversial. In territories where violent

crime is a particular problem such as Hong Kong and Belize,

Governors predict local opposition to any moves to abolish

capital punishment. This "old testament" attitude is reflected

in the local legislatures who clearly do not share the views

of the UK Parliament on this question.

10. The British Virgin Islands made favourable comparisons

between violent crime in the British and US Virgin Islands

and claimed that this was because of their retention of the

death penalty.

11. Only in the case of Hong Kong (where capital punishment

has in effect been suspended since 1973) did the Governor

feel that local reactions would be so adverse as to urge us

not to pursue abolition or suspension of the death penalty

In the Caribbean, the feeling of Governors is that it would

be best imposed unilaterally and openly from outside.

IV.

ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES

12. If it is considered that the death penalty should no

longer be carried out in those dependent territories where at

present it is retained, the abolition of capital punishmaat

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/might