TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL

(65

033546

MDHOAN 4123 .

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 2413

OF 20093OZ DECEMBER 90

·HKB 380/1

1991

св

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN, DUSS

-(64)

OUR TELNO 2397: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

پھر

TOP COPY Q DIST?

1. THE PRIME MINISTER HAS NOW RULED THAT IN VIEW OF THE DIFFERENCES OF VIEW A DISCUSSION WILL BE REQUIRED BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CARIBBEAN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES BY ORDER IN COUNCIL (CONTRARY TO THE IMPRESSION GIVEN IN FCO TELNO 2397 NOT ALL THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THE MINISTERIAL CORRESPONDENCE WERE ON TACTICS AND TIMING: THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONING OF THE WISDOM OF DOING ANYTHING AT ALL). THERE MUST BE SOME DOUBT WHETHER THE EVENTUAL DECISION WILL BE TO PROCEED AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

2. AS FAR AS TIMING IS CONCERNED, WE SHALL NOT KNOW UNTIL EARLY JANUARY WHEN THE MINISTERIAL MEETING TO DISCUSS THIS WILL TAKE PLACE. THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY FOR LAYING THE ORDER BEFORE THE PRIVY COUNCIL (IF THAT IS THE DECISION) WILL NOW BE 5 FEBRUARY, BUT THE TIMETABLE COULD EASILY SLIP BEYOND THAT DATE.

HURD

YYYY

MAIN

25

LIMITED

HKD

WIAD

PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD

ADDITIONAL

2

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

27

PS/LORD CAITHNESS

MR MCLAREN

MR BURNS

MR CHAMBERLAIN, LEGAL ADVISERS

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