8
his knowledge of the Chinese language
and his position
as
Protector of the
Natives would render him a
desirable
and valuable aid to
Court where
9.
the
prisoners for trial would almost always be Chinese. I still think
however that the presence of a Naval Officer should, when practicable, be secured, although perhaps it may be desirable to render his presence
absolutely necessary
Members of the local Executive and Legislative Councils take precedence at present in the balcony of any
Commanders in the Navy,
when not commanding Her Majesty's Naval forces
on the Station. This is the
cause also
of the Judge of the Summary
Court to whom the
precedence of
a Vice Secretary of State functions Judge has been
assigned. The
proposed alteration therefore would seem in the absence of some obvious
and pressing necessity
to involve an
anomalous
departure from established
usage,
not merely
because it would
after the Chief Justice, irrespective of
his claims otherwise to such
position.
an Officer being only a Commander
should, as suggested for the first time in Yo & Grace's despatch, take precedence
of
all other Members of the Court "next
of
Governor No 8" ON
1866.
2° 8578/66