*
t
73664
1
case has been as yet made.
12.
335
In regard to the suggestion that the
rendition of a criminal might involve his subjection to torture
I may point out that under the terms of the agreement made by
Sir Henry Blake (vide Mr. J. Chamberlain's Despatch No. 247 of
26th. July, 1901) China binds herself specifically not to
subject an extradited prisoner to any form of torture, that a
British Consular representative is present at the trial, and
at the execution of extradited prisoners, and that should any
suspicion exist that China was not acting up to her obliga-
-tions in this matter, it would at once form grounds for re-
-presentations to the Chinese Government.
13.
Apart from these extraneous considera-
-tions the practical issue as it affects Hongkong is that the
mere knowledge by the criminal classes of Kwangtung that they
might possibly be extradited for ordinary offences would it is
hoped at once operate to cause this Colony to cease to be
regarded as a haven of refuge for all criminals who find it
convenient to transfer the scene of their warfare against
society for a time from the place where they had rendered them-
-selves too obnoxious. At present a notorious criminal knows
that the chances of his capture and conviction in Hongkong are
remote