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restrict their enquiry accordingly, as he is of opinion that to require further proof would be acting contrary to the provisions of the Treaty and the clear enactments of the Ordinance. I am to add that in one of the late cases the long delay was explained by the fact that one of the Solicitors either for the prosecution or the defence was engaged elsewhere on the days which were proposed for continuing the enquiry or on the days fixed for the same. His Excellency is of opinion that the magistrate should fix days for the hearing and should not grant postponements merely for the convenience of the solicitors but only on good and sufficient grounds and if the lawyers of one of them do not choose to attend he should proceed with the case without them.
His Excellency thinks it not improbable that the Foreign Office in view of the great delays which have taken place in some of the cases in Hongkong may ask the Colonial Office for some explanation of the time which these preliminary enquiries have occupied and of the delays connected with the hearing of the same.
77 Frederick Stewart
Acting Colonial Secretary.
As