CO129-014 - Public Offices - 1845 — Page 80

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pointed out by the Chinese Government as a refuges and proving to be so on examination, would of course be handed over: but Members of the Triad Society apprehended by

our own Police, as offenders under the bolonial Ordinance, must

of necessity be punished by

over

our own law.

the British criminal jurisdiction - the Chinese of this Colony, which is absolutely indispensable as a condition of its good government, is naturally unpalatable to the Rulers of China; and so dangerous and critical a topic does the Imperial Commissioner consider it in relation to himself, that he made it the subject of a private communication, enclosure N., 3.

In my reply I endeavoured to shew chat on this point I was the mere passive__ instrument of principles and circumstances chat: admit of no change ;

; and took occasion

a

at the same time to point out the palpable -

distinctions

between

Anglo-

Chinese

subjects

al-

N. 3.

No 4.

Hongkong,

and mere commercial residents

from England at the Consulates. That the

constitute the maso of the populace former.

in

the Colony, the chief subjects of criminal Law; while the English Traders to China are confired to particular Ports, and even to a particular location at each Port, and are not

in a thousand to the native population. that the severe restrictions in their case were

consistent with, and

one

1 justified,

an extraneous

jurisdiction, while the liberty allowed in the other rendered it impossible. Above all, hat the Treaty itself sanctioned the existing

arrangements.

I have the honor to be,

with the highest respect,

Your Lordships,

most obedient,

humble Servant,

Mongkong

Davis