CO129-008 - Foreign Office - 1844 — Page 151

and the mode of compellens obedience in

Civil cases.

I have thought it necesary to call

to mo

your attention to these points consequence of some observations made by the Law Officers of the brown; and I will only add, though without any intention to fetter you in respect to

the course which you

should pursue that it might be the most convencent course as regards criminal matters to allow the Consuls to den, summarily as sole Magistrates, with affences of

A.

minor character, and even with

more serious offences with the

Concurrence of Assessors, chosen from

the

149

the British Community; while all offences

;

of a grave

hature, which, if committed the

England, would be reserved for trial

a

by or judge of Asize, might be semilled to the Court at Hong kong :

That Court you

will observe, is

empowered, in consequence of the appointment of the Colony of Hongkong for the bical of Offences committed

milled by British Subjects in thina, to take cognizance of such matters, and the Consuls are authorized to send British Offenders to Hongkong for bucal, and while I leave it to you to determine what instructions it may be proper to Give Her the esty's lousals in this

respect

IND