TNAG-1373-FCO40-1819-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 286

CONFIDENMAL

4. THE LAST DEATH SENTENCE THAT WAS CARRIED OUT IN HONG KONG WAS IN NOVEMBER 1966. SINCE THEN, 189 CONVICTED MURDERERS HAVE HAD THEIR DEATH SENTENCES COMMUTED, WITH MORE THAT 91 PER CENT OF THEM RECEIVING A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF 20 YEARS OR LONGER AND 57 PER CENT BEING IMPRISONED FOR LIFE. SINCE 1980, 75 PER CENT OF DEATH SENTENCES HAVE BEEN COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

ISSUE.

5. CIVIL LEADERS AND THE PRESS HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME REVIVED CALLS FOR THE DEATH PENALTY AND THERE CAN BE NO (NO) DOUBT THAT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, GIVEN THE CHOICE, WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RE-INTRODUCED, EITHER AS BEING THE MOST APPROPRIATE SENTENCE FOR MURDER OR AS A MORE PERSUASIVE DETERRENT.

YOUDE

LIMITED

нко

MR RENTON

2.

CONFIDENTAL