453
"by the Chinese Authorities and proof of their guilt."
In consequence of representations made to the Secretary of State by the Chinese Authorities in regard to the surrender of Criminals escaped, and the infliction of barbarous punishments on them revolting to the feelings of civilized nations, I have received very stringent orders not to surrender any criminal taking refuge in Hongkong, unless I obtain previously satisfactory guarantee that neither before, during, or after trial, shall such criminal be subject to torture or barbarous punishment.
3. Acting on those instructions, by Despatch of Secretary of State to Governor Grey 26th December 1848, by which I am guided entirely irrespective of any other construction deducible from the Treaty of Peking, I refused in May last to deliver to the Viceroy of the Two Kwang a criminal accused on the clearest evidence of a daring robbery and burglary accompanied by much violence. I declared that I must first have a distinct pledge as to the infliction of any barbarous punishment and torture. After a protracted correspondence, the pledge required was given in the form and words required, and the criminal named Kwok Leong Wee, a Cantonese Police Runner, was delivered to the Chinese Authorities on the ...
4. I satisfied myself that the Viceroy had kept faith in the matter. I requested...