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and the meting out of punishment and the above are two instances where the Crown has not hesitated to exercise powers overriding local sentiment. Are we not entitled to expect that now when so much public dissatisfaction has been expressed in public forum and in the Press as to the hiatus in means of enforceability of the provisions in question to demand that such dissatisfaction should be assuaged and an appropriate amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Act enacted? We are convinced that there is
no insurmountable obstacle to overcoming what to the, public must seem inexplicable legal humbug in this matter and, granted the necessary resolve and momentum in the right quarters, the problem is capable of solution. The necessary corrective steps should be urged upon the United Kingdom Government, and who better than His Excellency the Governor who is conveniently in the United Kingdom at the present time to make the necessary representations.
If the United Kingdom does not react favourably to this suggested course of action, the impression will inevit- ably be that even when it comes to matters where responsible public feeling has been voiced and is running high in the Colony, as it presently is, for instance, regarding the Hong Kong Government Sterling balances in London, the Home Government is quite prepared abruptly to accord to the Colony an imperial brush off.
Yours faithfully,
D.A.L. Wright
P.J. Griffiths
Our addresses are
As to Mr. D.A.L. Wright,
Holland House, 5th fl.,
Hong Kong.
As to Mr. P.J. Griffiths,
Jardine House, 12th fl.,
Hong Kong.
firmant Hand