Enclosure 4.
560
(Copy.) Acting Chief Justice to Acting Governor
Sir,
19.
Hongkong, 22 June, 1886.
0.0. 14201 IR SUP REG AUG 36
With reference to your letter of the 6th June asking my opinion on the recommendations of the Tolo Commission on—
1. "that corporal punishment be administered in cases of petty theft,"
2. "for returning from banishment;"
3. on question of queue cutting, I have the honour to state that in my opinion the administration of corporal punishment would do more to prevent criminals returning from banishment than any other form of punishment.
I have spoken to some intelligent Chinese about whipping for petty larceny and cutting off queues. The whipping commends itself to them,
His Excellency
The Acting Governor