Bor: Colonial Secretary,
1,
C. O.
19346
RESP
REC 5 JUN 05
458
In reply to His Excellency's minute, asking for a Rex,
port as to the nature and value of Vr. 0. Clementi's assistance afforded to the Attorney General and myself in the Cheung Sha Pan
Appeal case, I have the honour to report as follows:-
2.
Mr. Clementi was associated with me in the condut of
the proceedings before the Land Court when this and other con- flicting clains were heard by that Court, the hearing of which clains occupied from September 1908 to February 1904, resulting in a Judenent in favour of the Crown inthe latter month, Mr. Ole-
menti instructed me in the Chinese Land Laws, a subject on which I was naturally absolutely ignorant, collected a ouantity of valuable evidence, and transleted, or revised the translation of a large number of documents. He also made several visits to the District Magistrate of Sun On and procured from him a number of valuable documents and much useful information.
2.
In May 1904 the claiment Teap Isz U aonealed from the decision of the Land Court, and Yr. Clementi was directed to assist the Attorney Generel and myself in conducting the case for the Crown on that Appeal. The appellant obtained the ser- vices of a Chinese Magistrate, who posed as an export in Chinese Lend Laws, and after considerable delay this so-called expert, whose name is Man Pui Lem, made an affidavit consisting of about! 40 pages of typewritten foolscan on behalf of the appellant, which went very desoly into the Chinese Lex relating to the Re- clamation of foreshore and similar matters, Further affidavits were also filed by the apoellant dealing with the cuestion of translation of Chinese documents and laks.
4.
In order to reoly to these affidavite it was neces- sary to study the Chinese Laws in the original, and to procure. translations, and for this ourocse it was necessary for the Crown to have expert assistance. Mr. Clementi's special quali-