C.O.
The Right Honourable
847
45120
RECR
The Secretary of State for the Colonial Department
Downing Street
London S.W
Recd 16 DEC 05
16 St Leonard's Bank
Sir
Edinburgh 14th December 1903.
We the undersigned, being the Father, Mother and nearest relatives of the late Mr William Mackregor, traverser in the Public Works Department, Hongkong, who was accidentally shot in the New Territory on Sunday 8th November last, desire to approach you with reference to the proceedings taken or which it may be proposed to take against Sergeant See, a friend of Mr Mackregor's and whose carelessness caused his death.
We understand that a charge of Manslaughter was preferred against Sergeant See, and while we at present do not know what has been the result of that charge, we are most anxious that any charge or proceedings against Sergeant See should be departed from, or if he has unfortunately received a sentence or been fined, or if he has been reduced in rank, or has otherwise suffered punishment in connection with the matter, that the sentence or punishment be remitted or cancelled.
We have seen the Reports regarding the matter in the Hongkong Daily Press and we have otherwise been fully informed of the whole circumstances of the accident, and we are all satisfied that the occurrence was purely accidental, and while we appreciate the necessity for careful enquiry in all such cases, we would be sorry indeed if in the present instance Sergeant See, who unwittingly caused the death of our friend and who we know has already suffered deeply in his mind and feelings, should be prosecuted or punished in any way.
It would be a satisfaction to us if any trial or legal proceedings in the matter had been merely formal, and that it had not been found necessary or desirable to punish Sergeant See in any way, or if not that at any rate any punishment had been of a merely nominal character.