TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 16

CONFIDENTIAL

Hong Kong

17. I am excluding Hong Kong from these proposals. Though public opinion there is generally in favour of the death penalty, its effective abolition has been accepted by most

people. But the issue remains very sensitive, not least

because of the transfer of sovereignty in 1997, and any United Kingdom action to end capital punishment in the Caribbean territories would be bound to stir up debate and

controversy in Hong Kong. The Governor's strong preference is therefore not to raise the issue of Capital punishment in the Dependent Territories now, and he certainly would not wish anything to be done in regard to Hong Kong. But he agrees that abolition through Order in Council applying to

the Caribbean Territories alone would be less damaging than

any of the alternatives. If we were challenged as to why we

had not taken the opportunity to legislate for Hong Kong, we

would take the line that there is no immediate need for any

action, and that it would be wrong to insist that Hong Kong should be required to follow the United Kingdom lead in such a sensitive area when we were seeking to build up the

territory's autonomy in the run up to 1997.

Conclusion

18. I propose that the necessary Order for the Caribbean Dependent Territories be made at the meeting of the Privy

Council on 19 December and be laid before Parliament on the

same day. The fait accompli would be announced by a written.

PQ.

/19.

CONFIDENTIAL