TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 52

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 3331

OF 131043Z NOVEMBER 90

CONFIDENTIAL

52

065322

MDLIAN 6568

HKB

380/1

p.r.

14 NOV 1990

TOP COPY Q DIST?

198157/11

PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR

YRTELNO 2099: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

1. THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY ASIAN COMMERCIAL RESEARCH LTD. WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS WAS 623. 71 PERCENT OF THEM WERE IN FAVOUR OF THE RETENTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY ON THE STATUTE BOOK, AND 25 PERCENT WERE IN FAVOUR OF ABOLITION. 4 PERCENT HAD NO OPINION. WE ARE SENDING A COPY OF THE SCMP REPORT BY FAX TO PAUL, HKD.

2. OUR CRIME COMMITTEE HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY WITH A SAMPLE SIZE OF 43618. THE RESULTS WERE SET OUT IN PARA 2 OF MY TELNO 2525. WE BELIEVE THAT THE RESULTS OF THIS

SURVEY PROVIDE A MORE RELIABLE INDICATION OF CURRENT PUBLIC OPINION ON THE ISSUE.

3. NEVERTHELESS BOTH SURVEY CLEARLY INDICATE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WISH TO SEE THE DEATH PENALTY RETAINED. THIS, COMBINED WITH CURRENT CONCERN OVER THE LEVEL OF CRIME AND THE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME, LEAD US TO THE CONCLUSION THAT AT PRESENT ANY ATTEMPT TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY WOULD RESULT IN A STRONG ADVERSE PUBLIC REACTION.

WILSON

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