CO885-(10-11) — Page 667

10117

No. 531.

(Hong Koxe.}

LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.

Temple, September 7, 1868. MY LORD,

We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 13th August ultimo, stating that with reference to our report of the 29th November last, on the question of the rendition to the Governor of Macao of Portu- guese deserters escaping to Hong Kong, he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a letter from the Colonial Office forwarding & Despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject, and to request that we would take these papers into our consideration and favour your Lordship with our opinion thereupon.

The former correspondence was enclosed for convenience of reference. In obedience to your Lordship's commands we have the honour to

Report

That we observe that his Grace the Duke of Buckingham agrees with Sir R. Mac- donnell that an Ordinance should be passed enabling the Governor of Hong Kong to arrest and deliver over to the Portuguese Government persons charged with heinous crimes not of a political character (such persons not being deserters) to come into operation on the passing of an Ordinance of reciprocal intent by the Government of

Macao.

It may be deserving of consideration whether it would not be right that Her Majesty's Government should be assured that it is within the competency of the Macao Government to pass such an Ordinance, or whether the Portuguese Government should pass it in order that it may have binding effect.

It will be necessary, at all events, that the details of each Ordinance should be settled before the Hong Kong Legislature passes the proposed Ordinance, for the scheme for the rendition of criminals by the Macao authorities should be substantially co-extensive with that which is to be made by the Hong Kong authorities, and the crimes for which extradition is to be provided should be settled beforehand.

It will, we think, be very expedient that the draft of the proposed Ordinance should

be submitted to the Home Government for consideration before it is passed.

We have, &c. (Signed)

JOHN B. KARSLAKE. TRAVERS TWISS

The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P.

&c.

&c.

&c.

⚫ No. 485.

0 16972--555. 25.-5/86,

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

EPEREC.O. 885

11 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO