273
The object of this ordinance
face, with
to
B
the Governor of Hong Kong of the duties imposed upon him the Imperial Extradition Act 1870,
by
of lating the prelimi
"nary Examination
of
Witnesses in Extradition
cases
a
duty which
in
England devolves
on Police Magistrate.
2. It appears to Legco Commission that the Imperial
Act places the
Governor
of the Colony in
an
invidious and disagreeable
position.
The is
called upon to preside
at a legal inquiry
and to decide questions
between contending
Counsel or
Attorneys
and in his "Magisterial capacity his committal
of a prisoner is liable to be overruled
and set aside on
Habeas Corpus by
the
Supreme Court. It would be more
seemly
and convenient
to sever the Judicial from the Executive
functions in all