Queen's protection must be utterly opposed to the wishes and objects of Her Majesty's Government.
16. The existing feeling on the subject would probably be stronger, if it was known how very ungraciously the steps at last taken in behalf of Kwok A Shing were communicated to me by Sir Rutherford, who in doing so accused the Governor of having acted on the information of an informer instead of on that communicated to him by Her Majesty's Minister, though, as shown in my Despatch No. 32 of 8th July 1867, no such appeal was possible. Whilst he described the mitigation of the forfeiture to a fine as having been urged merely in deference to my strongly expressed wishes. This seems to show that although it was right to obtain that mitigation, for otherwise I cannot think he would have sought it, it was nevertheless reluctantly asked by Sir Rutherford, who might surely have been expected to originate and take the lead in such a proceeding if it was justificable at all.
17. I can only hope that, now that these many complications may somehow result in preventing Her Majesty's Government from obtaining complete justice for Kwok A Shing, as is too probable, they may at least result in Sir Rutherford's observing greater caution in future, and abstaining from publicly undertaking what has so much the appearance of an Advocate's part.
18