TNAG-1005-FCO40-1254-Capital-punishment-in-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 94

CONFIDENTIAL #2

2A)

For information (28, 7.,81)

Background

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51 TINE BOUNCIL

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

REGISTRY

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INDEX

At the meeting of Council on the 21st July

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The Acting Governor referred to a recent article in the South China Morning Post about the death penalty and said that he had asked for a copy of the latest letter written by Mr Nicholas Ridley, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth office, on the subject. In the meantime a telegram had been received from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the effect that the position set out in the then Chief Secretary's statement in Legislative Council on 6th November 1975 still obtained. He said that this could be made known by way of question and answer in the Legislative Council on 30th July 1981 if public interest in the matter was sustained.

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G.S. 166

At Annex A for the information of Members is an exchange of correspondence between Mr K. Marks, MP (Labour), Gorton, Manchester and the Honourable Mr Nicholas Ridley, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Present Position

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Following enquiries from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a result of an article in the South China Morning Post on 16th July, the Government has been advised that Mr Ridley's reply was a reiteration of the long standing policy of HMG in relation to dependent territories generally. It did not imply any change of policy in relation to any particular territory.

4

HMG's position in relation to Hong Kong remains as stated by the then Colonial Secretary in the Legislative Council on the 6th November 1975. A copy of this statement is at Annex B.

5

The article in the South China Morning Post has not given rise to very much media or public interest. In these circumstances it is not proposed to re-state the position by way of question and answer in the Legislative Council as was suggested in the Executive Council on the 21st July.

27th July 1981

(SCR 7/3231/56 IV)

CONFIDENTIAL

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