country, and fleeing to Hong Kong, or to British Ships shall if discovered by British officers be handed over at once. It also stipulated that if before such discovery by British officers, Chinese officials learned that Chinese criminals had taken refuge here, then a communication should be made to an English Officer, who should search for and seize, and on proof, admission of guilt, deliver up the offender. The Ordinance therefore enacted,
"If a complaint, information, or communication by a Chinese Officer be made or forwarded to a Magistrate desiring the arrest of a refugee criminal, or if in the course of an investigation before a Magistrate it appear that any person being a subject of China has committed a crime or offence against the Law, it shall be lawful for a Magistrate to issue his warrant for the arrest of such refugee criminal, and if such criminal is already in custody it shall be lawful to detain him; and in any of the three cases it shall be lawful for the Magistrate to investigate the alleged crime or offence in the same manner, as if such person were charged with a crime or indictable offence committed within the Colony."
By sections of the Ordinance, the Governor may issue his warrant, or order, to any Magistrate, or Gaoler, or officer of Police, for the apprehension, detention, examination, transmission.