continuing to reside there after the cession to the British crown are no longer subjects of the Emperor of China. They are subjects of the Crown of England, and are bound to pay obedience to the Law which the Sovereign Power in this Country may think fit to declare for the good of the Island. If, therefore, Hong Kong is to be treated and considered as part of the dominions of the Crown of England, and not merely occupied for the protection of Commerce, we should much doubt the expediency of extending the proposed arrangement to the actual inhabitants of that Island, nor should we think it right or prudent to treat them merely as a Chinese territory.
In the case of crimes committed by any of the inhabitants within the British Territory, and against British subjects, we think it reasonable that reparation should be sought for in all cases, and under all circumstances, from a Chinese tribunal alone.
We humbly think also that great practical difficulties may arise from the stipulation or Agreement that the Chinese inhabitants of the Island (and descendants of the Chinese, if it be a permanent arrangement) should always be subject only to their own law, although objection may probably not apply to a temporary arrangement of this kind; and to the reception, for the present, of Chinese judges, as proposed in the Draft answer to the Colonial Office, if it be not considered as a permanent and binding arrangement on the footing