RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE F CO
TELNO 1999
OF 21105OZ JUNE 91
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
INFO ROUTINE HKGO LONDON
RESTRICTED
Bo)
175120
TOP COPYMDHIAN 2218 Q DIST?
MK3 3.80
1.
p.r. Capital 1991 punishment
кр
LEGCO DEBATE ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY MR KINGSLEY SIT, A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THAT HE WISHES TO MOVE THE FOLLOWING MOTION AT THE COUNCIL'S NEXT SITTING ON 26 JUNE:
''IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING CONCERN CAUSED BY THE PRESENT LAW AND ORDER SITUATION, THIS COUNCIL URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO RESUME IMMEDIATELY THE CARRYING OUT OF THE DEATH PENALTY.''
2. THE MOTION HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD IN RESPONSE TO INCREASING PUBLIC CONCERN OVER CRIMES INVOLVING FIREARMS AND, IN A RECENT ROBBERY CASE, AN AUTOMATIC RIFLE.
3.
A NUMBER OF LEGCO MEMBERS, INCLUDING MARTIN LEE AND MARTIN BARROW, ARE LIKELY TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT, TO COUNTER THE ORIGINAL MOTION, ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES:
''THAT THIS COUNCIL PROPOSES THAT LEGISLATIVE MEASURES BE INTRODUCED TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND REPLACE IT BY LIFE IMPRISONMENT.''
IN THE DEBATE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL SPEAK FOR THE GOVERNMENT ON THE FOLLOWING LINES, MAKING REFERENCE BACK TO THE STATEMENT BY THE THEN COLONIAL SECRETARY TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 6 NOVEMBER 1975:
(A). THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS CAUGHT IN A PARTICULAR DILEMMA:
ON THE ONE HAND, A CLEAR MAJORITY OF LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION FAVOURS RETENTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY. ON THE OTHER HAND, ANY PETITION TO HM THE QUEEN FOR CLEMENCY WOULD BE CERTAIN TO BE SUCCESSFUL GIVEN THE FIRM POSITION ON THIS ISSUE OF HMG:
(B)
THEREFORE THE DEATH SENTENCE REMAINS ON THE HONG KONG
1
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.