CONFIDENTIAL
Amnesty
House and by bodies like Amnesty International. International representatives raised this issue with the
Secretary of State in May.
The Chinese Angle
6. Our main concern is likely to be the Chinese reaction,
and we need to be sure that the Hong Kong Government takes account of it. Abolishing the death penalty for treason could, for example, arouse some angst in Peking. However, at the time of the LegCo vote, the Chinese reaction was relaxed and they refrained from expressing a view in public. When Mr Galsworthy discussed the matter informally at the time with the JLG Counsellor, Zheng Weirong appeared to agree with his argument that the Chinese should not be unduly concerned, since even if the death penalty were abolished now, there would be nothing to prevent a future legislature (including that of the SARG) from re-establishing it.
x
K. Sanders
KAM Saunders
the
agree
:
better to get on with this now before leg to take up cudgels again, which would make the Clunese more likely to protest.
Is Gabworthy is content with HICG's proposal and thanks we can continue to rely on the argument at 'x'.
KAYAAT/3
I think this is a sensibl
18/xü
proceed. But the China angle needs watching: 7
de
CONFIDENTIA
have theal game strengthened the final paragraph
пилезами of the telegram. Andrew. un 18/on
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