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with telegraphic instructions received frou you, had
already secured the assent of His Excellency the
Viceroy to the presence of a British Officer at the
trial in Chinese Courts of all such prisoners after
their rendition, with the proviso that, if sjose-
quently found to be inconvenient, the practice should
be discontinued.
Upon this understanding His Excellency the
Governor of Hongkong sanctioned the extradition of
the prisoners, and they were inly brought to Canton
and handed over to the Chinese Authorities.
Their names were:
Lei A. Chang,
Cheng Ya Yu,
Liang Kuei.
Lei A Ch'ang was accused of anti-mission riot-
ing, and the other two of complicity in the Per-
severance Piracy.
The case was heard before the Nam Hoi Magistrate,
and the first hearing took place on 20th. June in
the presence of Mr. H. A. Little, Acting Vice Consul.
Five prisoners were brought up, the additional two
being Feng Chin Fu and Ho Ya P'u whose arrest had
beon secured by the Chinese Authorities some time
before the extradition of the other three prisoners
from Hongkong. All refused to admit their guilt,
and were remanded for further evidence to be adduced
against them.
The case was again heard on 10th. August, and
upon production of clear evidence and on due identifi-
cation, Lei A Chang, Cheng Ya Yu, and Liang Kuei
were convicted and were subsequently sentenced under
instructions from the Viceroy, the first to a term of
imprisonment, and the others to be executed. 15.
H. E. Sly, Consular Assistant, was present at this hear-
ing and at the carrying out of the death sentences,
and
satisfied himself that the men had not been
tortured.
I had subsequently the honour to receive your
despatch of 10th. October, No. 20, instructing me to
the
make