CONFIDENTIAL
173435 MDHOAN 2978
TO MAKE USE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL IN THE WAY SUGGESTED. THE EXCLUSION OF HONG KONG FROM SUCH A BILL COULD BE USED TO REINFORCE THE AUTONOMY ARGUMENT ALTHOUGH THERE WOULD STILL BE THE DANGERS YOU MENTION FROM HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.
5. MINISTERS AND PUBLIC OPINION HERE ARE LIKELY TO BE ATTRACTED BY THE ARGUMENT THAT A LIBERAL MEASURE LIKE THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WOULD TAKE FORWARD THE LIBERALISATION OF HONG KONG'S DOMESTIC LEGISLATION AND THAT BY ATTRACTING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, AS IT WOULD BE BOUND TO DO, IT WOULD STAND A BETTER CHANCE POST 1997 OF REMAINING PART OF THE FURNISHING. THIS POINT WAS ALSO TOUCHED ON IN PARA 6(D) OF FIRST TUR, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
6
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS DESKBY 24093OZ.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
35
LIMITED
HKD
WIAD
UND
ADDITIONAL
1
MR BUTT, PLANNERS
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
36
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MCLAREN
MR BURNS
MR BEAMISH
PAGE 2 CONFIDENTIAL
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