TNAG-1005-FCO40-1254-Capital-punishment-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 102

GR 250

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFL

FM HONG KONG 160651Z JUL 81

TO PRIORITY F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 675 OF 16 JULY

INFO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

HKS 380/9

20 JUL 1981

CLIFT'S LETTER HKG 3802 OF THE 3RD APRIL 1980: CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT.

| BBR

Len

TODAY'S SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST CARRIES A FRONT PAGE ARTICLE FROM CHUGANI IN LONDON WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN POLICY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS UNLIKELY TO INTERVENE OFFICIALLY IF HONG KONG DECIDES TO CARRY OUT CAPITAL

PUNISHMENT.''

2. CHUGANI CLAIMS THAT THERE WAS CORRESPONDENCE IN DECEMBER BETWEEN MR. RIDLEY, FCO AND MR. KENNETH MARKS, MP FOR GORTON, MANCHESTER, A COPY OF WHICH HE HOLDS, STATING THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ACT AS A MATTER OF COURSE TO PREVENT AN EXECUTION TAKING PLACE IN

HONG KONG,

3. THE ARTICLE REFERS TO A MOTION SUPPORTED BY A NUMBER OF MPS WHICH MR. MARKS PUT ON THE ORDER PAPER ON THE 10TH NOVEMBER OF WHICH WE HAVE A RECORD THOUGH NO DETAILS OF THE OUTCOME.

4. THE ARTICLE GOES ON IN A RATHER CONFUSING WAY AND STATES THAT

''IT NOW APPEARS INTERVENTION WILL ONLY COME IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT

OPPOSITION FROM MPS TO FORCE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT INTO ADVISING THE QUEEN TO EXERCISE HER POWER OF MERCY, THUS OVERRULING ANY DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL''. IT COMMENTS THAT THIS BRITISH POSITION APPEARS TO CONFLICT WITH THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT

STAND IN HONG KONG''.

5. THERE WAS A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL RECENTLY ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND WE CAN EXPECT THE ARTICLE TO STIMULATE FURTHER ENQUIRY. WE SHOULD THEREFORE BE GLAD FOR EARLY CLARIFICATION

AND FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THE CORRESPONDENCE AND THE POSITION. MAYBE CHUGANI IS CONFUSING THE POSITION IN THE DEPENDENCIES

WITH ELECTED LEGISLATURES AND WITH A CONSIDERABLE MEASURE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IF NOT SELF GOVERNMENT, WITH THE

POSITION IN HONG KONG.

CATER

LIMITED

HKr GD LEG. ADV PSIMBRIDLEY SIR-E-YOUDE' MRDONALD MRURE"

THIS TELEGRAM

WAS NOT ADVANCED

COPIES TO

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE

LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL