Y-
pa
p.4. Appan.
28
CALL BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE,
22 MAY 1991
ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY: HONG KONG
NAB
380 4
MAY 139:
Points to make (defensive)
In Hong Kong, since November 1966, the Governor has
commuted every death sentence to a term of imprisonment. This arrangement is widely accepted and understood in Hong Kong even though public opinion is still strongly in favour of retaining the death penalty.
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Legislation recently introduced to abolish capital
punishment in the Caribbean dependent territories applies to territories which will, for the foreseeable future, remain
under the British Crown. Not the case of Hong Kong.
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Would be wrong to insist that Hong Kong should be required
to follow the United Kingdom lead in such a sensitive area
when we are seeking to build up the territory's autonomy in
the run-up to 1997.
- Formal abolition in Hong Kong now would not prevent the post-1997 government there from reintroducing the death penalty if it so chose.
GUYAEB/1
VAS
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