RESTRICTED TO DESKBY 31083OZ FCO
142014
MDHIAN 70
4. ANY ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD STATE:
M
(A) THAT WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE DECISION OF THE PARDONS
BOARD IN THE FOLLOWING TERMS...
(B) THAT WE HAVE, OR WILL SHORTLY, DELIVER A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF PENANG AND DR MAHATHIR
MAKING THE FOLLOWING POINTS:-
(I) A PLEA FOR COMMUTATION OF DEATH SENTENCE ON HUMANITARIAN
GRONUDS:
(II) TEMPHASIS ON THE FACT THAT BOTH GREGORYLAND,
IF APPROPRIATE, THE HK8, COMMITTED THEIR OFFENCES BEFORE THE DEATH SENTENCE BECAME MANDATORY IN MALAYSIA, AND THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR MANY YEARS, EITHER IN UK OR IN HONG KONG, AND IS NOT APPLICABLE IN EITHER COUNTRIES TO DRUG TRAFFICKING:
(III) A REQUEST THAT ANY MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES SUBMITTED
BY THE LAWYERS MAY ALSO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.
5. IN THE EVENT OF AN ADVERSE DECISION ON 8 JUNE, GREGORY MAY WELL BE ABOUT TO BE, OR JUST HAVE BEEN, EXECUTED BY
13 JUNE. THIS IS THE DATE FOR WHICH OUR QBP IS PLANNED. THE EVENTS ARE, OF COURSE, ENTIRELY UNRELATED AND WE COULD SAY SO TO THE PRESS. BUT I SHUDDER NONETHELESS AT THE PROSPECT OF PICTURES IN THE POPULAR PAPERS OF DIPLOMATS CAROUSINGWHIL A MAN HANGS. I SHOULD BE GLAD IF I COULD HAVE DISCRETION TO CANCEL MY PARTY IF I DEEM IT ADVISABLE ON THESE GROUNDS.
6. FINALLY, GREGORY'S FAMILY, WHO HAVE UNTIL NOW PROVED MOST RELIABLE, SHOULD BE WARNED THAT WHEN WE MAKE OUR PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT THEY WILL INEVITABLY BECOME THE CENTRE OF MUCH INTEREST. WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE ADVISED TO SAY AS LITTLE AS THEY DECENTLY CAN. IN PARTICULAR THEY MIGHT FIND IT USFUL TO TAKE THE LINE THAT SINCE THE PRIME MINISTER IS SENDING A MESSAGE ON GREGORY'S BEHALF THEY WOULD RATHER THE PRESS CONCENTRATED ON THAT FACT, THAN ON THE DIFFICULT TIME THE FAMILY WILL INEVITABLY BE GOING THROUGH.
8. IN FINAL PARAGRAPH OF OUR DISTRESS 28 WE SAID WE WERE CONSIDERING ASKING ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO ALLOW A MONTH'S STAY OF EXECUTION TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO MAKE SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS. IN THE CASE OF GREGORY THIS WILL NOT NOW BE NECESSARY BUT WE
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RESTRICTED TO DESKBY 31083OZ FCO
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