TNAG-0931-FCO40-1149-Capital-punishment-in-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 135

CONFIDENTIAL

-5-

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

14. There is no action which can be taken to forestall these

problems apart from ensuring that Mr Davidson is fully aware of

the legal and other assistance on which he can call and that he is

under no misunderstanding about HMG's attitude.

Mr Ridley, may,

however, wish to minute to his colleagues and to the Secretary of

State, giving them a chance to express their views. It would also

be helpful if the Prime Minister and certain Cabinet Ministers were

informed, ie the Secretaries of State for Defence and the Home

Department and the Lord Chancellor. Besides his general interest

in the question of capital punishment in the United Kingdom, the

Home Secretary will need to bear in mind that any move to abolish

capital punishment in the Dependent Territories might affect the

position of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man where the

death penalty is at present retained.

Brin

17 October 1980

сс

PS/Mr Hurd

PS/Mr Blaker PS/PUS

Legal Advisers Mr Deare, WIAD Mr Payne, MCD Mr Munro, POD

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

1. While

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