129
7
to ascertain from Mr Mossop whether the Judge was coming. If the Chief Justice, he added, does not do his duty; I will do mine so far as in me lies. My duty is to attend in Court, and I will attend in Court, but I will not attend in Chambers.
Mr Stockhausen left to interview Mr Mossop.
1
The Registrar: As to the matter of Son Sui Suen, I have put his petition among the papers and have rendered an account of all the moneys received. He may attend in Chambers if he chooses; I will not. I say, and I wish it to be understood, that my duty is not to attend in Chambers. If it were my duty, I would attend, but I do not attend because I have been insulted on every occasion I have attended, and I don't choose to be insulted unless I have the protection of the Press. I am very sorry for Son Sui Suen, but I cannot help it. I believe the only safeguard the public has is the Press. The Law has been administered here since I came here in a way I never saw it administered elsewhere. Matters are taken in Chambers in secret which ought to be taken in public. I don't choose to be a party to anything of the kind. Whether I am in a high position or a low one, I am simply guided by one principle, and that is to maintain the integrity of the Law as I understand it. It is now ten minutes to four o'clock. I shall stay here till four. One of the cases the Chief Justice wants to take in private is in the case of the adjudication in bankruptcy of Hoffm... which of all things ought to be taken in public, proceedings against a man under sentence of penal servitude. If there be anything that ought to be taken in public, that is one. It is particularly a case, if anything is to be taken in public, which should not be heard in Chambers.
Mr Stockhausen now returned with a message to the effect that, as the Registrar refused to attend now, the business in probate and in bankruptcy would stand over till to-morrow after the Criminal Sessions.
The Registrar: So be it. The business will be held in open Court. I am not to attend the Chief Justice where he can insult me with impunity; I am not to see my position degraded. I may brook a private insult, but the insults that have been offered to me by the Chief Justice are insults to my official position which I will not bear. I wish that to be distinctly understood. He may insult me privately, the Chief Justice or anybody else, and I could brook it and forget it, but an insult to my position I am bound to resent. The position I hold is a sacred trust and I will uphold its dignity. They may say I am vindictive. I am in that respect. I am jealous of the integrity of the law. I have followed the honourable profession of the law for twenty-five years now, and I never had an insinuation against me, either as judge or barrister, and I must say I am not now disposed at my age to have my position degraded in my person on my coming to an outside place like Hongkong. I wish that that may go forth over the length and breadth of the Colony, small as it is, if it go no further.
The Registrar then bundled up the papers which had been given him by Mr Stockhausen, and remarking that they were not all there and that they really never ought to have been out of his possession, left the Court, and this edifying spectacle came to a close.
V.
Dec.