CO129-003 - Foreign Office - 1843 — Page 174

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

continuing to reside there after the cession to the British crown are no longer subjects of the Emperor of China. They are subjects of the Crown of England, and are bound to pay obedience to the Law which the Sovereign Power in this Country may think fit to declare for the good of the Island. If, therefore, Hong Kong is to be treated and considered as part of the dominions of the Crown of England, and not merely occupied for the protection of Commerce, we should much doubt the expediency of extending the proposed arrangement to the actual inhabitants of that Island, nor should we think it right or prudent to treat them merely as a Chinese territory.

In the case of crimes committed by any of the inhabitants within the British Territory, and against British subjects, we think it reasonable that reparation should be sought for in all cases, and under all circumstances, from a Chinese tribunal alone.

We humbly think also that great practical difficulties may arise from the stipulation or Agreement that the Chinese inhabitants of the Island (and descendants of the Chinese, if it be a permanent arrangement) should always be subject only to their own law, although objection may probably not apply to a temporary arrangement of this kind; and to the reception, for the present, of Chinese judges, as proposed in the Draft answer to the Colonial Office, if it be not considered as a permanent and binding arrangement on the footing

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continuing to reside there after the cession to the British crown are no longer subjects of the Emperor of China. They are subjects of the Crown of England, and are bound to pay obedience to the Law which the Sovereign Power in this Country may think fit to declare for the good of the Island. If, therefore, Hong Kong is to be treated and considered as part of the dominions of the Crown of England, and not merely occupied for the protection of Commerce, we should much doubt the expediency of extending the proposed arrangement to the actual inhabitants of that Island, nor should we think it right or prudent to treat them merely as a Chinese territory. In the case of crimes committed by any of the inhabitants within the British Territory, and against British subjects, we think it reasonable that reparation should be sought for in all cases, and under all circumstances, from a Chinese tribunal alone. We humbly think also that great practical difficulties may arise from the stipulation or Agreement that the Chinese inhabitants of the Island (and descendants of the Chinese, if it be a permanent arrangement) should always be subject only to their own law, although objection may probably not apply to a temporary arrangement of this kind; and to the reception, for the present, of Chinese judges, as proposed in the Draft answer to the Colonial Office, if it be not considered as a permanent and binding arrangement on the footing
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continuing to rexide there after the cession to the British crown are no longer subjects of the Emperor of thina They are subject of the frown of refland, and are bound to hay obedience to the Law which the Sovereign Power in this Country onay think fit to declare t گرفته به هنگ for the foot of the Seland. If therefor though. I Rong is to be treated and considered as hart of the dominions of the (nour of England andurt merely occupied for the pecefour of Commer we should much doubt the expedieny of Extending the proposed arrangeumat to the actual Sahabitants of that baland, hor should we think it right or prudent acourt merely as a Chinatald ui case of crvives committed by any Jere of the dudabitants within the british Jerritory 169 Territory, and against thetish serbyecto toxtifules. that reparation should be sought for in all caser, and under all circumstances frour a Chenia Rebrenal alone. We humbly think a las that great practical difficulties may arise from the may stipulation or Agreement that the Chinese Lo habitants of the ckland (and dexcesidents of the Chinese, if it be a formmanent arrangement Jshould always be although subject only to their own law, althans objcction may probably not the same o the affly. to a timiporary arrangement this kind; and to the reception, for present, of Chinese fudges; arcupectes 1 Office in the Draft auxever to the Colonial, if it be not considered as a a permanent and binding arrangement on the foot
2026-05-16 09:53:59 · Baseline
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continuing to rexide there after the cession

to the British crown are no

longer subjects of the Emperor of thina They are subject

of the frown of refland, and are bound to

hay obedience to the Law which

the Sovereign

Power in this Country onay

think fit to declare

t

گرفته به هنگ

for the foot of the Seland. If therefor though. I Rong is to be treated and considered as hart of the dominions of the (nour of

England andurt merely occupied for the pecefour of Commer we should much doubt the expedieny of Extending the proposed arrangeumat to the actual Sahabitants of that baland, hor should we think it right or prudent

acourt merely as a Chinatald

ui

case of crvives committed by any

Jere of the dudabitants within the british

Jerritory

169

Territory, and against thetish serbyecto toxtifules. that reparation should be sought for in all caser, and under all circumstances frour a Chenia Rebrenal alone.

We humbly think a las that great practical difficulties may arise from

the

may stipulation or Agreement that the Chinese Lo habitants of the ckland (and dexcesidents of the Chinese, if it be a formmanent arrangement Jshould always be

although

subject only to their own law, althans objcction may probably not

the same o

the

affly. to a timiporary arrangement this kind; and to the reception, for present, of Chinese fudges; arcupectes

1 Office

in the Draft auxever to the Colonial, if it be not considered as a a permanent and binding arrangement on the foot

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