TNAG-0722-FCO40-920-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 118

CONFIDENTIAL

Sir Michael Palliser KCMG Permanent Under-Secretary of State

and Head of the Diplomatic Service

FCO

Jear 1.0.5.

houghall R254

Belize House,

BELMOPAN.

224

17 April 1978

wuevair C25/4

HK+ Semnal Dept.

cc: M+C. Dept. thy. Station

on

THIS IN A COP

THE ORIGINAL A BEEN CLOSEL UNTIL

EXEMPTION No

38

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT OVERSEAS TERRITORIES (DOTs)

21.

Kitarely under

"line, the dives of cupiatal punishment when we can say that it is "fortunate"

data man we believe guilty of murder is acquittal!)

Thank you for your letter of 4 April. I well understand the difficulties for Ministers in abrogating the "Creech-Jones doctrine" and the difficult practical procedures that would be necessary to get local laws changed.

2. I am also very aware of the repercussions of the recent Bermuda case and realise that exercising the Prerogative of Mercy, at least for the moment, must remain one of the burdens which will continue to fall on Colonial Governors.

3. I have, of course, been keeping Hong Kong and General Department fully in the picture about the recent very difficult case that we have had against

Fortunately, though from all I know of the case, wrongly, he was acquitted. I have three other uncomfortable cases coming up before the Supreme Court in their next session, but I would not wish to draw attention to these at the moment because I never have less than about this number for each of the sessions here.

4. Rest assured that I will do all I possibly can to avoid embarrassment and that I will keep the Department fully informed of any cases that are likely to prove difficult.

INDEX

No

Mice 38671

GRY NO. 51 25 APR 1978

HEGISTRY

Action Taken

E

Yours

Pet

PD McEntee

ever

M

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