CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 2525
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST?
27
070130
MDLIAN 3478
OF 15095OZ AUGUST 90
36
PERSONAL FOR MARSDEN HKD FROM ACTING GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 1526 : CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
=
RECEIVES
HKB 380 / 1
70x1990
1 I DO NOT THINK THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG STANDARD SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A RELIABLE INDICATION THAT THE MAJORITY OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS WOULD SUPPORT THE ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY IF THE MATTER WERE TO BE PUT TO A VOTE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE 17 MEMBERS WHO SAID THEY WERE IN FAVOUR OF ABOLITION ARE BY AND LARGE THE MORE VOCAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND ALSO THE MOST LIKELY TO WANT TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY. I BELIEVE SUCH A VOTE WOULD BE VERY CLOSE, AND THAT ON BALANCE IT WOULD COME DOWN IN FAVOUR OF RETENTION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
2. COINCIDENTALLY, OUR FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY WHICH INCLUDED QUESTIONS ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS DEATH PENALTY. 50 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS CONSIDERED THAT THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD NOT/NOT BE ABOLISHED, 30 PER CENT CONSIDERED THAT IT SHOULD AND 20 PER CENT HAD NO OPINION. THE REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED AFTER DISCUSSION BY THE COMMITTEE IN SEPTEMBER 1990.
3. NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE SOME SIGNS THAT PUBLIC OPINION IS BEGINNING TO CHANGE, DUE PARTLY TO THE EVENTS OF JUNE 1989. BUT THE COMMUNITY REMAINS VERY MUCH DIVIDED ON THIS MATTER AND THERE IS PROBABLY AT THIS TIME STILL INSUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR ABOLITION. THOSE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS WHO SUPPORT ABOLITION MAY PUT FORWARD A MOTION FOR DEBATE DURING THE NEXT SESSION, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT A CAMPAIGN IS BEING ORCHESTRATED. THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN DTS MAY, HOWEVER, GIVE THEM AN IMPETUS FOR DEBATE.
4. WITH REFERENCE TO MY TELNO 2392, I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY ADVICE ON A LINE TO TAKE ON THE REASONS FOR HMG TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN DTS.
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