TNAG-1216-FCO40-1519-Extradition-treaties-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-countries-1982 — Page 11

territory is at the discretion of the Home Secretary or

the appropriate Governor.

Before ordering the surrender

In

of the fugitive the Home Secretary, or Governor, is

responsible for satisfying himself that the standards of

justice in the requesting State are not oppressive.

addition, in the case of a requesting State which retains

the death penalty, it is our normal practice to seek an

assurance or undertaking that, should the offender be

returned and convicted, the death sentence, if imposed,

would not be carried out; or if such an assurance cannot

be given that a recommendation would be made in the appropriate

quarters against the imposition or execution of the death

penalty.

5.

Following Hong Kong's telegram number 1311 there was

an initial exchange of telegrams with Monrovia and Hong Kong

which established that present standards of justice in

Liberia are generally satisfactory and that the Post did

not believe that the death sentence, although mandatory

for murder, would be carried out.

6. Hong Kong later expressed disquiet about the Liberian

authorities handling of a case similar to Lam's which

occurred in 1979 and we therefore asked Monrovia to raise

formally with the Liberian authorities the matter of Lam's

likely sentence should he be surrendered and convicted

and asked them to obtain certain assurances from the local

authorities about the conduct of any trial.

7.

Monrovia's telegram no 113 of 20 December reports

the outcome of their approaches: In the view of the

Home Office, the information and assurances contained

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