CO129-024 - Bonham - 1848 [3-6] — Page 109

has been from

since

come

so far

my

to

various causes. so

so fully occupied

arrival, that I have been unable to

any

conclusion on the subject, except

as to be enabled to state

my opinion

that the Ordinance in its present shape should not be confirmed. But as the provisions of the contemplated Ordinance

are

very useful in authorizing the Magistrates to entertain and dispose of trifling Larcenies,

which in my judgement, under proper

restrictions should be permitted under

circumstances,

but

more

any especially reference

being had to the local circumstances of Hongkong, and the absence of proper and sufficiently large gaols for the incarceration of Prisoners, and proper rules for their discipline, I would with great respect suggest that

the present Ordinance

abeyance, until

for

to remain in

one

having

the

same

be permitted

may

an amended

but

?

object in view,

less open to objection in its provisions, can

be prepared.

107

In the meantime, I have deemed it

right to caution the Magistrates of the necessity that exists for discretion while adjudicating

on questions under the provisions of the Act under consideration; but it affords me great pleasure to be able to acquaint Your Lordship that having been furnished with a return of all punishments that have been inflicted since I took

myself the Government of the Colony to this date, I find that only twelve culprits have been corporally punished

during that time, that they

and that

only

were all Chinese,

one and two stripes were

inflicted on two of them respectively.

I beg to assure

Your Lordship

that it will be no less my pleasure than

any duty

to

see

that this mode of punishment

be not abused, and that it be inflicted

only on persons convicted of disgraceful

crimes, and this will not be

an

arduous

A