TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 70

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 2744

OF 11113OZ SEPTEMBER 90

CONFIDENTIAL

000552

MDLIAN 9728

Ks forder

PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR TELNO 1594 CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

1. WE PROPOSE, THE FOLLOWING LINE FOR DEFENSIVE USE TO MEET HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR CONCERNS (PARA 3 OF TUR):

(I) APPLICATION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN HONG KONG IS A MATTER FOR

HKG TO CONSIDER WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT:

(II) AT PRESENT THE DEATH PENALTY IS STILL ON THE STATUTE BOOK IN HONG KONG, BUT IN PRACTICE EVERY DEATH SENTENCE IS NOW COMMUTED TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT. WE HAVE NO PLANS TO CHANGE THIS

SITUATION:

(III) ACCORDINGLY, HKG HAS ASKED TO BE EXCLUDED FROM HKG'S EXERCISE INVOLVING CARIBBEAN DTS.

2. GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

LIMITED

HKD

WIAD

UND

PLANNERS

NNNN

38

DISTRIBUTION

38

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURNS

MR MCLAREN

MR BEAMISH

PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL