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Any further communication on the subject of this letter should be addressed
L-
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,
HOME OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W,
and the following number quoted :--
зе
234,551/4.
C.O.
11261
446
Rece REE 5 APR 13!
HOME OFFICE,
WHITEHALL.
4th April, 1913.
سے
7799
Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 20th March (9395) forwarding copy correspondence in the case of Tracey Woodward, a fugitive offender from Hong Kong, I am directed by Mr. Secretary McKenna to say, for the information of Mr. Secretary Harcourt, that on the 31st January the Metropolitan Police received a telegram from the Hong Kong Police requesting that steps should be taken with a view to the provisional arrest of this man: he was arrested on the 19th February, and the Metropolitan Police at ence informed the Hong Kong Police of the fact by telegram. When the Governor of Hong Kong came to the conclusion on the 6th March that the charge should be withdrawn he cabled, Mr. McKenna observes, to your Department, but no comunica- tion whatever was made to the Metropolitan Police by the Police at Hong Kong, and Woodward remained in custody till the receipt of your letter of the 21st March. This mus
appears to Mr. McKenna te indicate a lack of coordination
en the part of the Hong Kong authorities in dealing with
the case.
It is customary, as Mr. Harcourt is aware, for
colonial authorities to communicate direct with the
Metropolitan Police when the arrest of a fugitive offender is desired, and in the earlier stages the case usually
remains in the hands of the Colonial Authorities and the
Police. Mr. McKenna considers therefore that in the present
India
The Under Secretary of State,
&c.
&C • •
&c.,
Colonial Office.
case