29
in Bias Bay and elsewhere, they have always replied that
the piraten take refuge in Hongkong and have their orga-
nization there. Here actually is a cane whore a well
known pirate not only makes his base in hongkong and
invests his ill gotten fortune in the Colony, but when
he is at last caught by the police, he is able to obtain
his release on payment of $10,000. The Canton Government
can afford to be blandly courteous in its communication
on the subject, when it has been provided with such an
admirable retort to any further complaints regarding
Bias Bay.
4. As regards the extradition question, I am grate.
ful for the Attorney General's opinion enclosed with
Your Excellency's despatch No. 307. I see that Sir
Joseph Kemp agrees with my view that it is for the Govern
or and not for the Courts to decide whether the requisi-
tion 13 properly made by an officer of the Chinese
Government, for he says that "no doubt the Courts in
Hongkong would act on a certificato from the Governor
on such a point".
5. In reply to the questions in paragraph 6 of his
opinion, I would say that the requisition would probably
be signed by General Li Chai-sum as chairman of the
Provincial Goverment of Kwangtung and, subject to ins-
tructions from His Majesty's Minister, I would have no
hesitation in advising Your Excellency to sign a corti-
ficate that His Majesty's Government recognize him aa
the officer administering a provincial goverment of the
republic of China, for the purpose of carrying out the
treaties