TNAG-0602-FCO40-750-Capital-punishment-in-Dependent-Territories-1977 — Page 50

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

CODE 18-77

$S 10/76

Mr Leyoír

Mr. Stewfurt

291

Reference.

draft reply drawing

Tattach a this explanation.

Hong Kong & General Dept

Dereft

Коссия. 8/12

to issue

cra

tells

HANGING IN BERMUDA: DONALD GOULD'S LETTER OF 2 DECEMBER

1.

264

Paragraph one of Mr Gould's letter refers to a telephone call made to News Department on the day of the hangings. It may be helpful if you have our version of what happened.

2.

The News Department Section Clerk who mans (figuratively speaking) the News Room during the Press Officers pre 1230 Press Conference morning meeting was rung up by Mr Gould of the New Statesman at about 12.20. Mr Gould asked her if she knew if the two men in Bermuda had been hanged yet: she replied that we had not yet had confirmation of that. (In fact the Reuters report of the statement that they had been hanged did not come on the tapes till about 12.45). His response was "Well, bloody well go and get me some, and be quick about it". The Section Clerk suggested that she got one of the Press Officers to give him a ring or else that he ring back round about 13.00 hrs. Mr Gould became more and more abusive and eventually hung up the phone on her.

6 December 1977

Lithais

PH Williams

News Department

HKG 380

RECEIVED INF

- 8 DEC 1977

DESK OFFICER INDEX

No

NO. 51

EMISTRY

Con Taken

Su 295

(273

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