CO537-3705 — Page 261

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CHINA

Tr. W. I. J. WALLACE

13 Jan

JAGISTRATE OVERRULES/HONGKONG TERRITORIAL QUESTION

-

HONGKONG, TUESDAY THE KOWLOON MAGISTRATE, MR W J BLAIR-KERR, DESCRIBED AS FRIVOLOUS DEFENDING COUNSEL'S

SUBMISSION QUESTIONING HONGKONG'S JURISDICTION OVER THE AREA INVOLVED WHEN TWO CHINESE WERE CHARGED TODAY WITH INCITING PERSONS TO RESIST THE POLICE.

THE CASE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH INCIDENTS WHEN POLICE

SUPERVISED THE EVACUATION OF CHINESE LIVING IN CONDEMNED HUTS IN THE OLD WALLED CITY OF KOWLOON, BRITISH-LEASED TERRITORY

OPPOSITE HONGKONG ISLAND, ON JANUARY 5.

COUNSEL SOUGHT FURTHER TIME TO PREPARE HIS CASE, BUT THE

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MAGISTRATE ORDERED THE CASE TO PROCEED AND DEFENDINGCOUNSEL WITHDREW FROM THE HEAVILY-GUARDED COURT.

THE ACCUSED, WHO WERE SENTENCED TO THREE MONTHS HARD LABOUR, SAID THEY WOULD APPEAL.

(REUTER REPORTED FROM NANKING TODAY THAT DOCTOR WANG SHIH- CHIEH, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, HAS REQUESTED THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA, SIR RALPH STEVENSON, TO ASK HONGKONG AUTHORITIES TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER EVICTIONS IN KOWLOON PENDING SETTLEMENT OF CHINA'S FOREIGN OFFICE PROTEST OF JANUARY 8). REUTER END 1622