......
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE
TELNO 348
HONG KONG
OF 201745Z FEBRUARY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
MMB 380/1
064307
MDHOAN 8284
pn.
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
(See Folio 14)
1. ROBIN MCLAREN HAS REPORTED TO YOU SEPARATELY THE OUTCOME OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING ON 14 FEBRUARY. IN ANTICIPATION OF MORE PRESSING QUESTIONING AS TO WHY WE ARE NOT BRINGING IN SIMILAR LEGISLATION FOR HONG KONG, WE HAVE PREPARED SLIGHTLY FULLER REPLIES THAN THE PUBLIC LINE WE HAVE RELIED ON SO FAR, IE. ''THERE ARE NO PLANS TO CHANGE THE PRESENT SITUATION''.
2.
WE PROPOSE TO AMPLIFY THIS AS FOLLOWS:
''IN HONG KONG CAPITAL (PUNISHMENT HAS BEEN ABOLISHED DE FACTO SINCE NOVEMBER 1966, SINCE THE GOVERNOR COMMUTES EVERY DEATH SENTENCE TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED AND UNDERSTOOD IN HONG KONG AND THERE ARE NO PLANS TO CHANGE IT.'
IF PRESSED WE COULD ADD:
3.
''THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION APPLIES TO TERRITORIES WHICH WILL, FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, REMAIN UNDER THE BRITISH CROWN. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO INSIST THAT HONG KONG SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE UNITED KINGDOM LEAD IN SUCH A SENSITIVE AREA. THIS IS A MATTER WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S AUTONOMY.''
IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS TO THE EFFECT THAT WE SHOULD LEGISLATE NOW AND ESTABLISH ABOLITION DE JURE BEFORE 1997, WE PROPOSE TO SAY:
! !
'FORMAL ABOLITION IN HONG KONG NOW WOULD NOT PREVENT THE POST-1997 GOVERNMENT THERE FROM REINTRODUCING THE DEATH PENALTY IF IT SO CHOSE''.
IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUGGESTING THAT THE POST-1997
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