We have the honour to inform you for the information of the Acting Governor that the Chinese Government maintain that a good and satisfactory prima forcie case was made out, in which opinion the presiding Magistrate manifestly concurred.
In view of this conflict of opinion we are now instructed on behalf of the Chinese Government to request that all the papers in the matter be submitted for consideration by a Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies and that, until the subject has been finally disposed of by that Minister the prisoner be detained in custody.
We have respectfully submitted for the consideration of the Government in the matter of the prosecution of thing Sam.
Solicitors for the Chinese prosecution of thing Sam.
Submitted.
Page 353
Submitted. I apprehend there can be no objection to forwarding the papers to the Secretary of State;
577 S. Hewett.
Acky Col. Secy
16.9.87
There will be no objection to send the papers to Secretary of State; indeed it is my wish to do so in order to give him another example of the difficulty and the necessity of some change in the code of procedure. Part I shall certainly detain the prisoner, as suggested by Messrs Caldwell and Wilkinson pending such reference to the Secretary of State, even if I recognise the channel of communication between this Government and China in question of this sort, which I do not.
By Order, W. Cameron
19.9.87