CO129-021 - Sir John Davis - 1847 [9-12] — Page 27

the Colony of Honghong," in which the

prescribed conditions have been observed, and I have reason to believe that this enactment is calculated to prove useful in aiding

the speedy operation of criminal justice.

The utmost period to which the

Magistrate

can sentence to imprisonment is three months, of which not more than

be passed in solitude.

third

may

Court

in

A

all

one

right of appeal to the Supreme

خاره

cases is

allowed to

every class

of prisoners, and the full use of previous evidence extended to the prisoner as well as prosecutor.

on

The necessary power of inflicting personal chastisement the Chinese is reserved, with the requisite limitations and safeguards as to the nature and amount of that

punishment. I

am

persuaded that, with

the preconceived habits and inveterate character of the Chinese, it would be altogether

}

impossible to dispense wholly with this

25

species

of funalty ; the more se as our prisons, instead

of being places of punishment in their estimation, afford to some

of them the three

principal necessaries of life in a degree to which they were before strangers.

I have the honor to be,

With the highest respect,

Your Lordships,

Most Obedient,

Humble Servant,

Ndani

T