If the Chinese Authorities would undertake some or all of these duties, it would diminish, in a measure, the objections & difficulties pointed out in Her Admiralty letter to the F.O. of Jan. 18, 1867. Here would only remain the expense & inconvenience of sending prisoners wherever captured to Hongkong for trial.
My Lords would give such orders to their officers as would reduce this expense & inconvenience as much as possible.
My Lords would therefore suggest, for the consideration of Lord Stanley, that all prisoners should be sent to Hongkong for trial.
If this course should be adopted, it would appear to be necessary, in order to legalize the act of H.M.'s Naval Officers, that the article of General Regulations annexed to the Treaty of 1843, relating to Chinese subjects captured by H.M.'s Cruisers within Chinese Jurisdiction, should be altered, & that the consent of their Government should be obtained for the rendition & trial by British Tribunals of all Chinese Pirates captured by H.M.'s Ships of War.
(signed) W.G. Romaine.