2.
Except for some minor details, to which I shall presently advert, the Hong Kong Ordinance is that which has already formed the subject of much correspondence and on which Your Grace was pleased in your Dispatch No. 15 of the 12th April last to express a decision adverse to the provisions contained in Section 14 of the original Ordinance for the deportation and branding of certain Criminals of 18[88]/17 2368 and their punishment for returning to the Colony.
3. In Lord Carnarvon's dispatch of 29th November last year, His Lordship conveyed Her Majesty's Government's approval of the rest of the Ordinance, and gave instructions to omit the clause in question. In my reply of the 11th of last January (M. 1897) I respectfully represented the importance of dealing with Criminals here on the same principles as with Criminals in England.
11. Your Grace, whilst according to that view, desires nevertheless that the provisions regarding branding should be modified so as to apply only to prisoners voluntarily petitioning for release on that condition. And in my reply of the 19th ultimo (11.988), I expressed my intention to embody Your Grace's views in a revised Ordinance.
It seemed to me ever after further consideration, however, more desirable to abandon the clause altogether in conformity with Lord Carnarvon's original instruction because whilst the whole system...
Page 260
...
...
File references like 1588/17, 10042/66, 11.988, M. 1897 should be checked for correct formatting as per rule 10.
Here is the revised response in HTML format as requested:2.
Except for some minor details, to which I shall presently advert, the Hong Kong Ordinance is that which has already formed the subject of much correspondence and on which Your Grace was pleased in your Dispatch No. 15 of the 12th April last to express a decision adverse to the provisions contained in Section 14 of the original Ordinance for the deportation and branding of certain Criminals of GR1178/1922/32(III) and their punishment for returning to the Colony.
3. In Lord Carnarvon's dispatch of 29th November last year, His Lordship conveyed Her Majesty's Government's approval of the rest of the Ordinance, and gave instructions to omit the clause in question. In my reply of the 11th of last January (M1897) I respectfully represented the importance of dealing with Criminals here on the same principles as with Criminals in England.
11. Your Grace, whilst according to that view, desires nevertheless that the provisions regarding branding should be modified so as to apply only to prisoners voluntarily petitioning for release on that condition. And in my reply of the 19th ultimo (No.11988), I expressed my intention to embody Your Grace's views in a revised Ordinance.
It seemed to me ever after further consideration, however, more desirable to abandon the clause altogether in conformity with Lord Carnarvon's original instruction because whilst the whole system...
Page 260
...
...