Stony Kong. No 10.. 8th May 1873.
Governor
Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy,
K.C.M.G., C.B.
The Right Honorable
The Earl of Kimberley.
Songtong Convicts in the
Straits Settlements. Explains the conduct of the Government regarding the release of-
Copy;
417
Report of the Honble Julian Robards, Attorney General of Hongkong
Prisoners
I apprehend that all the Prisoners whose names appear in the Schedule furnished by the Honorable The Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements were sentenced to the Punishment of Transportation. It was only in the year 1858 that an Ordinance of this Colony was passed, empowering the Courts to substitute Penal Servitude within the Colony for Transportation where there is no Place to which the convict can be appointed to be transported - (See Ordinance No 10 of 1858.) The Prisoners in question (See Enclosure)