CO129-011 - Sir John Davis - 1845 [1-4] — Page 277

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

incidental to the Office independent of Inquests, else the terms proposed in your letter of the 27th Ultimo would not have been stated at so low a rate. Since the Supreme Court has been established, the Coroner has extra duties to perform—the ecclesiastical jurisdiction involving great responsibility, on neglect of which he is liable to be punished (vide Regula generalis, see: GR1178/1922/32(III) dated 11th November 1844) and no fees are therein allowed him for his trouble. It has not been taken into consideration that a Coroner is continually called upon by notice from the Magistrates and also private persons to inspect dead bodies of Chinese found under suspicious circumstances. Attendances of this kind have been of very frequent occurrence and expense incurred in the shape of boat hire for which no allowance is made. Besides all this, it has happened in two or three instances that poor Europeans on whom Inquests have been held have left no means to defray the expense of their burial, and this expense has fallen on me who am bound, as a Coroner, to see that their bodies are interred.

To enumerate all the circumstances relating to the office would be very tedious; but I would wish to remark that to hold a proper official Inquest, and make a return, occupies at least a day and a half or two days independent of stationery where everything is not excessive. The fee of five dollars is not equivalent to the value of time, labour, and expense bestowed. (A Guinea is equivalent to the value of felony for each inquest.)

I have thus far endeavoured to throw light on the subject; but the Honorable the Chief Magistrate, through whom Inquests were returned to the Government, is well aware...

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incidental to the Office independent of Inquests, else the terms proposed in your letter of the 27th Ultimo would not have been stated at so low a rate. Since the Supreme Court has been established, the Coroner has extra duties to perform—the ecclesiastical jurisdiction involving great responsibility, on neglect of which he is liable to be punished (vide Regula generalis, see: GR1178/1922/32(III) dated 11th November 1844) and no fees are therein allowed him for his trouble. It has not been taken into consideration that a Coroner is continually called upon by notice from the Magistrates and also private persons to inspect dead bodies of Chinese found under suspicious circumstances. Attendances of this kind have been of very frequent occurrence and expense incurred in the shape of boat hire for which no allowance is made. Besides all this, it has happened in two or three instances that poor Europeans on whom Inquests have been held have left no means to defray the expense of their burial, and this expense has fallen on me who am bound, as a Coroner, to see that their bodies are interred. To enumerate all the circumstances relating to the office would be very tedious; but I would wish to remark that to hold a proper official Inquest, and make a return, occupies at least a day and a half or two days independent of stationery where everything is not excessive. The fee of five dollars is not equivalent to the value of time, labour, and expense bestowed. (A Guinea is equivalent to the value of felony for each inquest.) I have thus far endeavoured to throw light on the subject; but the Honorable the Chief Magistrate, through whom Inquests were returned to the Government, is well aware...
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- incidental to the Office independent of Inquests, else. the terms proposed in your. of the 27th Ultims would not have- letter been stated at 20 low a rate - Since the... Supreme Court - has been established -, the under . Coroner has entra duties to perform- the reclesiastical. Jurisdiction involving, great responsibility on neglect of which he - is liable to be punished (vide Regula. lis generalis and no see: 11 dated 11th November 1844 fees are therein allowed him. for his trouble. It has not been taken into consideration that a Coroner is continually called upon by notice. om the Magistrales from p and also private persons to inspect dead - bodies of Chinese - found under suspicions "Attendances of this kind. - - circumstances - Attendances of t- occurrence an have been of very frequent: expence incurred _ in the shape of Boat hire - for for which no allowance is made. Besides 272 all this it has happened in two or three- instances poor Europeans on whom have been held have le the expence of has fallen left. Inquests o defray no means to their burial_ and this on me who to see that their bodies expence - Am bound, as a Coroner are interred. To Enumerate, all the circumstances relating to the office would be. with very tedious; but I would. wish to remark: that to hold. l return- make a proper. Official_ an- Inquest, and occupies at least, a day and a half or two days independent and labour; and in this is po of Stationery where- every thing. Dollars for Ace of five. Inspect is not. time- labour and Lome one excessively high. folony the each value-of Guinea . ) for equivalent to the value -expence bestowed. I have thus far light. endeavoured to throw on the subject; but the Honorable._ the Chief Magistrate, through whom __Inqurets were returned to the Government. u well all ..
2026-05-17 01:37:03 · Baseline
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incidental to the Office independent of Inquests, else. the terms proposed in your. of the 27th Ultims would not have-

letter

been stated at 20 low a rate - Since the...

Supreme Court - has been established -,

the

under

.

Coroner has entra duties to perform- the reclesiastical. Jurisdiction involving, great responsibility on neglect of which he - is liable to be punished (vide Regula.

lis

generalis

and no

see: 11 dated 11th November 1844

fees

are therein allowed him.

for

his trouble. It has not been taken into

consideration that a Coroner is continually

called upon by notice.

om the Magistrales

from

p

and also private persons to inspect dead - bodies of Chinese - found under suspicions

"Attendances of this kind.

-

-

circumstances - Attendances of

t- occurrence an

have been of very frequent:

expence incurred _ in the shape of Boat hire

-

for

for which

no allowance is made. Besides

272

all this it has happened in two or three- instances poor Europeans on whom

have been held have le

the expence of has fallen

left.

Inquests o defray

no means to

their burial_ and this

on me

who

to see that their bodies

expence -

Am bound, as a Coroner

are interred. To

Enumerate, all the circumstances relating to

the office would be. with

very tedious; but I would.

wish to remark: that to hold.

l return-

make a proper. Official_

an-

Inquest, and

occupies

at

least, a day and a half or two days independent

and labour; and in this

is po

of Stationery where- every thing.

Dollars for

Ace of five. Inspect is not.

time- labour and

Lome

one

excessively high.

folony

the

each

value-of

Guinea . ) for

equivalent to the value -expence bestowed.

I have thus far

light.

endeavoured to throw

on the subject; but the Honorable._

the Chief Magistrate, through whom __Inqurets

were

returned to the

Government.

u well

all

..

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