176
185
CYPHER CAT A
GPS156
FM HONG KONG 170821Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
TO ROUTINE F C O TELMO 1154 OF 17 NOVEMBER 1977.
FOR STEWART HKGD.
YOUR LETTER OF 10 NOVEMBER TO GOVERNOR: DEATH SENTENCES,
GRATEFUL FOR WARNING AS TO WHEN EXECUTIONS IN BERMUDA ARE LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE SO THAT WE MAY PREPARE OURSELVES TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS HERE IF THE EXECUTIONS PROMOTE CONTROVERSY,
2. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN BERMUDA AND HONG KONG.
I ASSUME THAT THE BEST LINE IS TO ARGUE THAT BERMUDA HAS
INTERNAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND THAT FOR THIS REASON THE SECRETARY
OF STATE FEELS THAT IT IS PROPER FOR HIM NOT TO GIVE ADVICE
CONTRARY TO THAT TENDERED BY BERMUDA.
3. IT COULD PERHAPS ALSO BE ARGUED THAT HE IS NOT ANSWERABLE TO
PARLIAMENT FOR HIS ADVICE TO THE QUEEN, IN THE CASE OF A TERRITORY WHICH IS INTERNALLY SELF-GOVERNING, SINCE IN EFFECT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DECISION,
WHEREAS THIS IS NOT SO IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG.
4. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD CONFIRM THAT THE ARGUMENTS IN PARAGRAPHS
2 AND 3 MAY BE USED IF NECESSARY.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HK+GD. (5) GD.(5)
WIAD MR POSNETT
HKG 38671
RECEIVED
་་་
22 NOV 1977
DESK OFFICEK
INDEX
No
PA
0.51
REGISTRY
Action Tuke”
CONFIDENTIAL
SPANI TUCTPAND HANDALUZ HIS
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