CO129-006 - Sir John Davis - 1844 — Page 366

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

Your Lordship quotes statement of Sir Henry Pottinger, that the Chinese Authorities had tacitly abandoned the claim of jurisdiction. Such an abandonment on their part could not be otherwise, for they dare not for their lives commit it to paper. A written concession of such a point is out of the question, but the virtual possession of the right and practice since our arrival in this Colony is proved by the enclosed list of 940 Prisoners in the gaol: most of them Chinese, sentenced (for crimes of all grades from Piracy down to theft) to punishments of various degrees from seven years imprisonment with flogging and hard labor, to the lowest penalty. I may observe that for Piracy the punishments are much too light, that for the Chinese, instead of death, I should be disposed to adopt transportation for life to our penal settlements, as a most powerful dissuasive from crimes of atrocious violence.

With reference to the case of the pirate

Page 361

Edit History

2026-05-16 15:34:49 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

as Her Majesty in perpetuity by Her Britannic Majesty, her heirs, and successors, and to be governed by such laws and regulations as Her Majesty shall see fit to direct. The Chinese if possible is still stronger. It is literally to hold and guard the Lordship, and according to convenience establish laws, govern and regulate." The 15th Article of the Supplementary Treaty provides that debts from Chinese inhabitants of Hongkong shall be recovered by the English Courts of Justice, which plainly admits that the English Law shall be supreme. Your Lordship quotes statement of Sir Henry Pottinger, that the Chinese Authorities had tacitly abandoned the claim of jurisdiction. Such an abandonment on their part could not be otherwise, for they dare not for their lives commit it to paper. A written concession of such a point is out of the question, but the virtual possession of the right and practice since our arrival in this Colony is proved by the enclosed list of 940 Prisoners in the gaol: most of them Chinese, sentenced (for crimes of all grades from Piracy down to theft) to punishments of various degrees from seven years imprisonment with flogging and hard labor, to the lowest penalty. I may observe that for Piracy the punishments are much too light, that for the Chinese, instead of death, I should be disposed to adopt transportation for life to our penal settlements, as a most powerful dissuasive from crimes of atrocious violence. With reference to the case of the pirate Page 361

Baseline (Original)

as Her perpetuity by Her Piritannic Majesty, her heirs, and successors, and to be governed by such laws and regulations Majesty shall see fit to direct. The Chinese if possible is still stronger. It is literally to hold and guard the Lordship, and according to Conversience establish Yor ever laws, govern Ад to be recovered and regulate ." The 15th Article of the Supplementary healy prandes that debts from Chinese inhabitants of Hongkong by the English Courts of Justice, which plounly admits that the English Law shall be supreme. are the Your Lordship quotes statement of Sir Henry Pottinger, that the Chinese Authorities had tacitly abandoned the claim of jurisdiction. Such an adandonment on their part could not be otherwise, for they dare not #. Endli 361 not for their lives commit it to paper. my ar A written concession of such a point is out of the question, but the virtual posussion of the right and practice arrival in this Colony is proved by the enclosed list of 940 Risonors in the fail: most of them Chincte, sentenced (for crimes of all grades from Pracy down to theft) to punishments of various degrees from seven years imprisonment with flogging and hard labor, to the lowest penalty : Imay observe that for Pracy the much too light, punishments are айд that for the Chiricse, instead of death, I should be disposed to adopt transportation for life to our penal settlements, as a most powerful - dissuasive from Aimes of atrocious Violence. With reference to the case of the pirate

2026-05-16 15:34:49 · Baseline

View content

as Her

perpetuity by Her Piritannic Majesty, her heirs, and successors, and to be governed by such laws and regulations Majesty shall see fit to direct. The Chinese if possible is still stronger. It is literally to hold and guard the Lordship, and according to Conversience establish

Yor

ever

laws, govern

Ад

to be recovered

and regulate ." The 15th Article of the Supplementary healy prandes that debts from Chinese inhabitants of Hongkong by the English Courts of Justice, which plounly admits that the English Law shall be supreme.

are

the

Your Lordship quotes statement of Sir Henry Pottinger, that the Chinese Authorities had tacitly abandoned the claim of jurisdiction. Such an adandonment on their part could not be otherwise, for they dare

not

Endli

361

not for their lives commit it to paper.

A written concession of such a point is out of the question, but the virtual posussion of the right and practice

arrival in this Colony is proved by the enclosed list of 940 Risonors in the fail: most of them Chincte, sentenced (for crimes of all grades from Pracy down to theft) to punishments of various degrees from seven years imprisonment with flogging and hard labor, to the lowest penalty : Imay observe that for Pracy the

much too light, punishments are

айд

that for the Chiricse, instead of death, I should be disposed to adopt transportation for life to our penal

settlements, as a most powerful - dissuasive from Aimes of atrocious

Violence.

With reference to the case of the

pirate

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.