being entitled by International Law to the status of a
British subject, should be handed over to the British
Authorities for trial.
211
The Viceroy, on the other hand, contended that the
prisoner, 88 a resident of the leased territory, still
retained his Chinese nationality and having been arrested
on Chinese soil, should be tried by the Chinese Authorities
The question therefore practically turned upon the
national status of the accused, and Fr.Jamieson's conten-
tion that he should be rewarded as a British subject was
supported by the opinion of the Law Officers of the Grow
at communicated by the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Governor of Hongkong in a despatch dated October 10,
26221
49
1899.
This ruling, however, would seem to be in conflict
with the decision conveyed to this Legation in the Foreign
Office despatch of October 19, 1905, ander which it is
held that the inhabitants of the leased territory of rei
Fat Wel are not entitled to British protection outside the
limits of the dependeney and own allegiance solely to the
Figaror