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forward a copy of this despatch to the Governor of Hongkong, for information, in reply to his Communication of the 6th October 1866, which has, no doubt, been forwarded to H.M.'s Government from the Colonial Office. It will be seen that I have in addition stated to Sir Th. F. Wade that I do not share in his fear of the prisoners under the Rendition Clause being allowed to go free simply because they refused to confess, or on account of their exemption from a punishment under conditions, which, to the majority of the accused, must be worse than death. He is evidently mistaken as to the nature & extent of the guarantee given by the Chinese authorities, which has reference only to the final sentence & not to the execution of judicial procedure or trial.
According to Chinese Law, trial is conducted in the same mode of examination & trial as prisoners accused of like crimes; confession is most likely to be obtained. But, failing this, they will certainly not escape from the hands of justice unless under very rare & exceptional circumstances, such as the aid of powerful friends, or the command of large bribery might create corruption or interference with the stipulation or in the administration of justice - a contingency altogether absent at present.
I have &c.,
R. Alcock.
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