TNAG-1923-FCO40-2728-Capital-punishment-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 57

CONFIDENTIAL

042760

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HAMILTON

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 017

OF 311335Z JANUARY 89

- لبا:

FOR WIAD CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

·

380/

1980

MDLIAN 3016

OF COPY

1 THE PREMIER HAS STATED PUBLICLY THAT HE IS CONSIDERING INTRODUCING THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR SERIOUS OFFENCES OF DRUG TRAFFICKING. THE MINISTER OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS HAS SAID SHE IS IN FAVOUR OF THE DEATH SENTENCE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES. SHE IS, OF COURSE, A MEMBER OF MY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE PREROGATIVE OF MERCY. THESE STATEMENTS REPORTED IN THE PRESS WERE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRENT GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

2.

I SHOULD BE GLAD TO KNOW WHAT VIEW YOU WOULD TAKE OF SUCH AN EXTENSION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF CAPITAL PUNSIHMENT PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE 1982/83 REDUCTION OF THIS AS A MANDATORY SENTENCE FOR ALL MURDER TO PREMEDITATED MURDER ONLY.

LANGLEY

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

8

MINIMAL

WIAD

N N N N

DISTRIBUTION

8

LEGAL ADVISERS

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL

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