TNAG-1005-FCO40-1254-Capital-punishment-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 87

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CONFIDENTIAL

C AUG 1981

OFFICE

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PS / Mr Ridley he type lette

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Problem

1.

P. 26

To examine HMG's position on capital punishment in Hong Kong,

following Sir S Y Chung's meeting with the Minister of State on

28 July.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend:

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i) that Mr Ridley write to Sir S Y Chung saying that he

will be in touch later on the question of capital

punishment in the Territory following their talk;

ii) that Mr Ridley discuss the matter with the Governor

of Hong Kong (on leave in the UK) with a view to

maintaining the status quo whereby death sentences

in Hong Kong are commuted by the Governor-in-Council;

iii) that Mr Ridley send a telegram to Sir J Cater

informing him briefly of what he said to Sir S Y Chung.

I attach a draft letter to Sir S Y Chung and a draft telegram to

the Acting Governor.

Background

Legal Advisers concur.

3. HMG's policy on capital punishment in Hong Kong differs

from that adopted towards the other Territories where capital

punishment still prevails.

Attention has recently been revived

in Hong Kong by an article on 16 July in the 'South China Morning

Post'. This quoted a letter from Mr Ridley of 19 December 1980

to Mr Kenneth Marks MP describing HMG's general policy. In turn

some press comment in Hong Kong has advocated a return to hanging,

and Sir S Y Chung raised the matter with Mr Ridley on 28 July.

CONFIDENTIAL

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