TNAG-0601-FCO40-749-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 48

CONFIDENTIAL

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his telegram number 32, the majority of Bermudians would

support a decision to let the executions proceed and there is

unlikely to be the sort of confrontation that would attract public

or parliamentary interest in Britain.

3. In my submission of 19 October I explained the different

constitutional positions in Bermuda and Hong Kong. Given this

difference, I think that after the executions take place in Bermuda

the Governor of Hong Kong may find it somewhat more difficult

to maintain the policy he has pursued since 1973 of commuting the

death sentence in every case. However we can face this problem

if and when it comes: it is no bar to a decision on the Bermuda

case.

4. The summing-up of the last meeting of GEN 103 does not

strictly oblige the Secretary of State to go back to his colleagues.

However he will presumably wish to keep them informed, particularly

in the light of the Prime Minister's comment.

5.

Accordingly I recommend that the Secretary of State should

write to the Prime Minister and his colleagues informing them

of his intention to let the law take its course and that he

how see (79) should now forward the petition to The Queen with advice

that she should not intervene in this matter. I submit three

The Legal Adviser concurs.

drafts.

腿

D F Murray

1 November 1977

CONFIDENTIAL