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inadmissible that under any circumstances an Officer of the Colonial Government should in the matter under discussion or in any other be deputed to exercise functions vis-a-vis the Chinese Authorities at Canton apart from Her Majesty's Consular Officers, my main objection is to the re-opening of the question locally, and in a way that would in my opinion be futile for the achievement of the real object in view, even were the request ostensibly acceded to by His Excellency the Viceroy. In addition to the reasons for not taking the step desired which I have already had the honour to lay before His Excellency, I am convinced that were any such arrangement come to it would only lead to the deaths of criminals in prison and without trial once they were surrendered.
I would most respectfully venture to suggest that, should His Excellency consider that a change should be made in the procedure at present followed in the trial in the Chinese Courts of persons surrendered under the Extradition Ordinances and in the conditions on which such persons are given up, that His Excellency should lay his views before Her Majesty's Government, by whom the present procedure after lengthy consideration was settled.
I have etc.,
(sd.) B. C. George Scott.
H. M's. Consul-General.