Mr
ཐོ་་་་.
HKC 380/8
1 0 AUG 1981
CONFIDENTIAL
ne
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT HONG KONG
-
15.
BBR
Jip.e.
tot tool to me
ний
Butt Rocks.
1. My submission of 31 July. Mr Ridley discussed this on 31 July
before going on leave. He was not happy with the recommendation
because he sees major problems in maintaining the anomalous treatment
of Hong Kong as opposed to the other Dependent Territories now that
public attention has been drawn to his letter to Mr Marks of
19 December 1980. Mr Ridley believes that it may not be possible to
maintain a policy of non-interference with regard to all the other
dependencies, while continuing to tell the Hong Kong Executive Council
that the view of the United Kingdom Parliament on capital punishment
would make it unacceptable to have hangings there.
2. Mr Ridley wishes to discuss this matter with the Governor of Hong
Kong on 25 August before Sir Murray MacLehose returns to the Territory.
Then he wishes a further submission made drawing the attention of all
Ministers to the problem, making recommendations for a consistent
approach. He has written to Sir S Y Chung saying that he will study
the question and hopes to go into it when he visits Hong Kong in
November.
3. I have informed the Acting Governor and Sir M MacLehose who is in
Scotland. If pressed on the question, Sir J Cater will take the line
with Unofficials that Mr Ridley wishes time to consider the matter
before discussing it during his visit in the Autumn. He thinks that
it should be possible to hold the position at that.
CONFIDENTIAL
/4.
6
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.