TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 19

CONFIDENTIAL

014176

MDHOAN 3794

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE ANGUILLA

TELNO 161

OF 13163OZ DEC 90

HKB

380/1

ке

سیدم

so Hath

penalty

AND TO IMMEDIATE TORTOLA, GRAND CAYMAN, PLYMOUTH, GRAND TURK AND TO IMMEDIATE HAMILTON

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, KINGSTON, BRIDGETOWN, PORT OF SPAIN INFO IMMEDIATE GEORGETOWN, NASSAU

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR.

1.

CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES: ABOLITON OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FCO MINISTERS HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. ON CURRENT PLANS THE ORDER, WHICH MR LENNOX-BOYD HAS APPROVED, WILL PROBABLY BE SUBMITTED TO A MEETING OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 19 DECEMBER. THE ORDER, WHICH APPLIES TO THE FIVE CARIBBEAN DTS AND NOT (NOT) TO HONG KONG OR BERMUDA, WOULD BE LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT ON THE SAME DAY. IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PRACTICE THE ORDER WOULD ENTER INTO FORCE TWENTY ONE DAYS THEREAFTER IE ON 9 JANUARY 1991. A PQ WOULD BE ARRANGED FOR 20 DECEMBER TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE HOUSE TO THE ACTION TAKEN. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS TODAY CIRCULATED A PAPER TO HIS COLLEAGUES EXPLAINING WHAT WE INTEND TO DO, ASKING FOR COMMENTS BY CLOSE OF PLAY ON 17 DECEMBER. ON THAT SAME DAY THERE WILL BE A DEBATE ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL. ALL OF THIS IS, HOWEVER, CONDITIONAL ON A MAJORITY OF MPS VOTING AS IN THE PAST, TO REJECT ANY PROPOSITION THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER SHOULD BE RESTORED IN THE UK. IT ALSO STILL DEPENDS ON ALL THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S COLLEAGUES AGREEING TO THIS COURSE. IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO RAISE THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ISSUE IN THE HOUSE ON MONDAY 17 DECEMBER. IF THE QUESTION COMES UP, THE HOME SECRETARY WILL ANSWER THAT MINISTERS WILL CONSIDER THE ISSUE IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEBATE.

2. YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN INFORMAL SOUNDINGS OF YOUR CHIEF MINISTERS, AND IN SO DOING HAVE INDICATED THE WAY WE WERE THINKING ABOUT RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. ON RECEIPT OF FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, HOPEFULLY BY LATE 17 DECEMBER, YOU SHOULD SUMMON YOUR EXCO AND TELL THEM FORMALLY WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE TAKE NO (NO) ACTION ON THIS TELEGRAM UNTIL WE HAVE RECEIVED REPLIES FROM OTHER MINISTERS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MINUTE, AND THE OPINION OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE

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CONFIDENTIAL