pirate Chintão, noticed in my Despatch No: 31 of the 25th June, I have received the enclosed from the Surperial Commissioner Keying, in which he altogether evades the question of sending him back according to Express agreement, and observes that he will be executed with the other offenders. Though the ends of Justice will be equally answered, I cannot but look upon this as a breach of good faith, and shall be more cautious ever than hitherto as to the delivery of prisoners to the Authorities on the mainland.
An attempt has been made lately evidently for the express purpose of trying my firmness on this question of jurisdiction, and there is presumption that the accused person is perfectly innocent. An application was some time since made to Major Caine, the Chief Magistrate, by the Commandant at Kowloon to send over a principal inhabitant of one of our Houghing villages, to be tried on an accusation of Piracy. As there was no Evidence whatever against the man, Major Caine very properly refused to send him, after arrest and Examination referred the question to me.
I returned for answer that by the Treaty an accused person could be delivered up only on proof or admission of his guilt. This person moreover was not a refugee from the Chinese side, but an old inhabitant of Hongkong, and Constable of a village, under British appointment. He had lately received a sum of money in Compensation for land on which the cultivation of rice had been forbidden,
Page 362
pirate Chintão, noticed in my Despatch No: 31 of the 25th June, Thave received the enclosed from the Surperial Commissioner Keying, in which he altogether evades the question of sending him back aconding
Express agreement, and observes that he will be executed with the other
to the
of
Offenders. Though the rnds of Justice. with be equally answered, I cannot
bet look upon
this
at a
breach of good faith, and shall be more cautions
Ever
than tour as to the delivery of prisoners
to the Authorities
on the mainland.
An attempt has been made lately evidently for the express purpose of trying my firmness on this question of jurisdiction, and there is presumption that the accused person is perfectly innocent. An application was some time since made to krajor
Every
Caine
End: 10:2
Caine, the Chief Magistrate, by the
362
Commandant at Kowloon to send over a
on an
principal inhabitant of me of our Houghing villages, to be tried. accusation of Pracy. Ces there was no Evidence whatever against the
As
man,
Major Caine very properly refused to send him, after arrest and Examination
referred the question to me.
Ireturned for answer that by the
and r
Treaty an acc
- an accused person couts be delivered up only on proof or admission
of his
: quilt. This person
morcover was.
not a refugee from the Chinese side, but an old inhabitant of Hongthong, and Constable of a village, under
British
received
appointment. He had lately a sum of money
in
Compensation of land on which the cultivation of rice had been forbidden,
ared
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