TNAG-2084-FCO40-2969-Death-penalty-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL

143

000552

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 2744

OF 11113OZ SEPTEMBER 90

ITKE 380

1

·CEIVE

1990

INDE

PERSONAL FOR PAUL HKD FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR TELNO 1594 : CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

MDLIAN 9728

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

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

MAIN

38

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HKD

WIAD

UND

PLANNERS

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

38

LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURNS

MR MCLAREN

MR BEAMISH

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL