TNAG-2697-FCO40-3903-Hong-Kong-drugs-1993 — Page 12

RESTRICTED

11

001467

MDHOAN 9967

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HANOI

TELNO 186

OF 251059Z OCTOBER 93

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

HEA 385/

нка

-8 U 1993

HKA 385/1

26k.

YOUR TELNO DISTRESS 042

WONG CHI SHING FACING EXECUTION

Please pass following message to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Mr Nguyen Manh Can, from me.

1.

Begins

I have learned that Mr Wong Chi Shing, a British Hong Kong citizen, is due to be executed for drug trafficking.

I do not seek to question in any way the decision of the Vietnamese court which found him guilty, but I feel that I must urge you, even at this late stage, to consider commuting his sentence. I hope that you will feel able to intercede with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Vietnam, Mr Le Duc Anh, to persuade His Excellency to exercise the prerogative of mercy for humanitarian reasons.

I would like to give you my personal assurance that the British Government fully shares the Vietnamese Government's desire to stamp out the evil menace of drug trafficking, but we are not persuaded that the death penalty is an effective deterrent. I fully recognise the seriousness of drug offences and the need for severe penalties, but drug smuggling is not a capital offence in Britain or Hong Kong.

Ends

HONG KONG ONLY

2. I should like to take up the offer in your tel 1628 to support a ministerial appeal for clemency. Will you send suitable message to Hanoi? We suggest the message be addressed to Vietnamese Foreign Minister.

HURD