TNAG-0931-FCO40-1149-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 131

driumle

Mr Harding

Mr Day

Sir E Youde

PS/Mr Ridley

CONFIDENTIAL

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

[HKG-380/2

30 OCT 98

30

No

BBR

2

16) W..

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

20)(25

B

A

Problem

1.

To recall to Ministers the issues involved over the exercise

of capital punishment in the Dependent Territories and to draw

attention to the particular problem in the British Virgin Islands.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that the current policy of non-intervention in the

domestic legislation of the Dependent Territories be maintained.

Mr Ridley wishes to draw the attention of his Ministerial colleagues

to problems likely to arise over particular cases, and to suggest

that Cabinet colleagues be informed. I submit a draft minute from

Mr Ridley to the Secretary of State, and a draft letter from the

Secretary of State to the Prime Minister.

Background

3.

The background to this problem as a whole is in my submission

of 29 January, which invited Ministers to consider whether to maintain

the present policy or to impose abolition against the wishes of the

local Legislatures.

Ministers decided to continue the present policy.

4. Since then a number of cases have arisen in Dependent Territories

which may result in the local Governors having to decide whether the

death penalty should be carried out. These are annexed. In practice,

those in Belize are likely to be commuted on appeal. The most serious

cases are therefore those in the Turks and Caicos Islands and in the

British Virgin Islands.

C.C. HKG 380/48.5/1

CONFIDENTIAL

/5.

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

827 847