TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 139

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DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, INCLUDING HONG KONG, THEY WOULD BE SEEN IN HONG KONG, AND NO DOUBT BY THE CHINESE, AS RELATED TO 1997. BUT NO ACTION WE TOOK BEFORE 1997 COULD PREVENT THE LEGISLATURE FROM REINTRODUCING THE DEATH PENALTY AFTER THAT DATE, WHETHER OR NOT IT HAD BEEN FORMALLY ABOLISHED.

7. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS. IN PARTICULAR, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY REACTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND HONG KONG OPINION GENERALLY, TO A MOVE BY HMG FORMALLY TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY IN HONG KONG.

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MR BUTT, POLICY PLANNING STAFF

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LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

MR BEAMISH

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CONFIDENTIAL