450
Int
I am not disposed to lend much facilities to the surrender of deserters.
Confining myself, therefore, to the question of the Extradition Treaties, I have to state that, in my opinion, the most effectual mode of carrying out the desired object will be, in the present instance, the enactment by your Government of an Ordinance authorizing the Governor of Hong Kong to arrest and deliver over to the Portuguese Government persons who are charged with crime, not of a political character.
The offences for which Extradition may be demanded must be specified in the Ordinance, and the enactment of the Ordinance itself must be made contingent upon similar obligations being undertaken by the Portuguese Government.
I have to request that you will prepare and submit for the consideration of His Majesty a draft of such Ordinance, and I ...