The English law provides that extradition shall not be granted for political offences, and I would add that the above principle has been expressly embodied in section 5 of our local Fugitive Offenders Ordinance (No. 26 of 1889), which is modelled upon section 3 of the English Act of 1870 (33 and 34 Vict. cap. 52).
I am not aware of the existence of any particular objection to the law of Hong Kong being amended in the direction desired by the Viceroy, but in view of the settled policy of the Home Government upon the question of extradition for political offences, I should not feel justified in introducing such an amendment into the law of Hong Kong without obtaining the previous sanction of the Secretary of State.
Furthermore, I should most strongly deprecate any such representation being made to the Chinese Government without a substantial quid pro quo being exacted from them in return.
My experience of the Chinese has firmly convinced me that the free grant of a favour to them, without obtaining anything from them in return, would be regarded purely as a sign of weakness, and I would point out to Your Excellency that this question of extradition appears to afford a favourable opportunity for pressing upon the Central Government at Peking, if you have permission to do so, the extension of the boundaries of this Colony on the Kowloon side (which extension appears to be important from a sanitary as well as a strategical point of view).
I am not aware whether Your Excellency has been in communication with Her Majesty's Government on this point or has obtained sanction in regard to it, and therefore I beg that this communication be treated as confidential by H.M.'s Minister at Peking.
(80) William Robinson.