TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 4

CONFIDENTIAL

HK B

380/1

66

044446

MOLIAN 6975

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 3790

OF 21093OZ DECEMBER 90

ко

PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN, DUSS FROM GOVERNOR

65)

YOUR TELNO 2413 : CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

TOP COPY Q DIST?

1. I BRIEFED EXCO ON TUESDAY (18 DECEMBER) ABOUT WHAT WAS THEN HMG'S POSSIBLE INTENTION TO ANNOUNCE THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. I MADE IT CLEAR TO MEMBERS THAT NO FINAL DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN AND THAT WHAT I WAS SAYING BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL A PUBLIC STATEMENT WAS MADE. ALL THIS WAS AT THE END OF A LONG MEETING WITH SOME MAJOR ISSUES INVOLVED. THERE WAS LITTLE IMMEDIATE INTEREST.

2. I WILL TELL MEMBERS AT THE MEETING ON 9 JANUARY THAT THERE IS NOW SOME DOUBT AS TO HOW HMG WILL PROCEED. GRATEFUL FOR ANY MORE UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE BY 7 JANUARY.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

25

LIMITED

HKD

WIAD

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

ADDITIONAL

2

DISTRIBUTION

27

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR CHAMBERLAIN, LEGAL ADVISERS

~~~~

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

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