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From: J C Harrison
Consular Department
Date: 1 June 1989
cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur
SEAD
PS/Mr Eggar
Private Secretary
HKD
News Department
DERRICK GREGORY : SENTENCED TO DEATH IN MALAYSIA
1.
In his letter of 30 August 1988, PS/No 10 confirmed
that the Prime Minister would be prepared to make a plea
for commutation of the death sentence on Derrick Gregory
if the Penang Pardons Board upheld the sentence against him.
A text was agreed by the Prime Minister and sent to our High
Commission in Kuala Lumpur to be used at the appropriate
moment.
52
C
2.
The Governor of Penang has now told the High
Commissioner that the Penang Pardons Board will convene
on 8 June to consider Gregory's appeal (Kuala Lumpur
Telno 290). They may also consider the appeal of 8 Hong Kong belongers convicted of similar offences.
There
3. We are in contact with the Gregory family. will be considerable press interest in the Pardons Board decision. News Department propose broadly to follow the line
indicated in paragraph 4 of Kuala Lumpur Telno Distress 29.
I recommend that the Private Secretary write to PS/No 10
to confirm use of the agreed text of the Prime Minister's
plea, should an adverse decision be reached. It would be helpful to forewarn No 10 that we will be seeking similar
action on behalf of the Hong Kong 8. I submit a draft letter
to PS/No 10.
RESTRICTED
GL
JC Harrison
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