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H. B. M. Consulate, Canton
14th. November, 1900.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your despatch No. 2081. of the 13th. instant.
In reply I beg to state that I have no
doubt that in the case of Liao Wu, in the event of his
being handed over in accordance with the Extradition
Ordinances, that the Chinese Authorities will undertake that
torture shall not be used in his examination.
I do not however, think, that His Excel-
lency the Viceroy would consent that an official, I presume
the Vice-Consul or Assistant attached to his Consulate is
meant, should attend at the trial of the accused to see
that torture is not used.
I should hesitate to lay such a proposition:
before His Excellency. It would in the first place shew
that His Excellency's undertaking is considered worthless,
which I do not think I should be justified in doing. In
the second place, under correction, it is a new departure
which nothing so far as I am informed, in the case of Lizo Tu, specially warrants. Thirdly if it is intended to use
torture and not to abide by the undertaking given the
presence of an officer of this Consulate ar of any one else
would be futile. No torture would be used in his presence
but the secrets of a chinese prison are not so difficult to keep that torture,if it were thought necessary, would
be applied all the same.
Our security that torture will not be employed in the case of extradition prisoners, must be the anxiety
of the authorities to secure such criminals, and their fear that extradition may be refused. It is possibly
expedient
The Honourable,
J. H. Stewart-Lockhart G.M.G.
Colonial Secretary, HongKong.