Land
Safe custody until an occasion presents itself of effecting his transmission to Europe.
Upon the arrival of Mail Steamer or other Merchant Vessel, the Prisoner once landed and is at the Hong Kong Police authorities. The Consul applies to provide for the Prisoner's temporary Custody in Colonial Gaol.
The Consuls insist that the general Comity of Nations entitles them to invoke the assistance of the local Government under the circumstances and they allege that the refusal to accede to their application amounts to a denial of reciprocity. Hitherto such applications have been refused as there is no Power to detain a Foreigner charged with a crime committed out of the Colonial Jurisdiction, except in cases which fall within certain Extradition Treaties. The consequence of this refusal is that these Criminals are let loose upon the Colony.
Hong Kong is so small an Island and is already much over-run with dangerous characters from the neighborhood of Canton that any additional influx of Criminals must be viewed with great apprehension.
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