TNAG-0721-FCO40-919-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

Separate copies:

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

PS/Mr Rowlands

PS/PUS

Sir A Duff

Sir I Sinclair

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Stratton

Mr Rushford

Mr Stephen

Mr Duff (WIAD)

Mr Shakespeare (MCD)

News Dept

Mr Murray

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT OVERSEAS TERRITORIES (DOTS)

1. On 23 February Cabinet discussed the recommendations of Ministerial Committee GEN 103 on the question of capital punishment in the Dependent Overseas Territories.

2. Ministers recognized that without some change in policy, problems such as those which had arisen in connection. with the recent cases in Bermuda could possibly recur. They concluded, however, that the present political climate made this an inopportune time to try and introduce any changes in the DOTS and Ministers would consider the problem again at an appropriate time. It was agreed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary would continue to defend the present position and that the question would be reconsidered at a more appropriate time.

1 March 1978

CC:

Mr Wall (Private Office)

f.@.,B. beaut

JA B Stewart

Hong Kong & General Dept

CONFIDENTIAL