CO129-028 - Bonham - 1849 [1-3] — Page 262

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

administration of justice. This recommendation appears at first sight rational and easy of compliance, but it would be perhaps one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish, for so long as the administration of justice is with the Supreme Court, it must, more or less be subject to the delays, uncertainties and technicalities incidental to the system pursued in the Courts in England. To render even to British subjects intelligible would be a work of no ordinary difficulty to Chinese; it would be altogether useless to attempt it, but I do not think that a new code is required, for it is not our Laws to which the inhabitants generally, Chinese and others, if they could express themselves would object, but to the delays, fictions and technicalities with which those Laws are administered. That a short abstract of crimes and their punishments might be drawn up and published is true enough, but the Chinese as well as all other nations know tolerably well what is morally wrong, and that murders, thefts, acts of violence and the like, are punishable by the Laws of all nations.

Confirmed. 18th May last
AB.

While on this subject I would beg to remind Your Lordship that by this mail an Ordinance will arrive at the Colonial Office for approval, which provides for the decision and punishment of the lesser and more prevalent crimes in a speedy and summary manner. By this Ordinance certain minor crimes heretofore only determinable by the Supreme Court are made cognizable by Court of Petty Sessions at which the Stipendiary Magistrate is to preside, having as his coadjutors any of the Magistrates of the settlement who may be fit to attend; and to render this Court perfectly independent...

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administration of justice. This recommendation appears at first sight rational and easy of compliance, but it would be perhaps one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish, for so long as the administration of justice is with the Supreme Court, it must, more or less be subject to the delays, uncertainties and technicalities incidental to the system pursued in the Courts in England. To render even to British subjects intelligible would be a work of no ordinary difficulty to Chinese; it would be altogether useless to attempt it, but I do not think that a new code is required, for it is not our Laws to which the inhabitants generally, Chinese and others, if they could express themselves would object, but to the delays, fictions and technicalities with which those Laws are administered. That a short abstract of crimes and their punishments might be drawn up and published is true enough, but the Chinese as well as all other nations know tolerably well what is morally wrong, and that murders, thefts, acts of violence and the like, are punishable by the Laws of all nations. Confirmed. 18th May last AB. While on this subject I would beg to remind Your Lordship that by this mail an Ordinance will arrive at the Colonial Office for approval, which provides for the decision and punishment of the lesser and more prevalent crimes in a speedy and summary manner. By this Ordinance certain minor crimes heretofore only determinable by the Supreme Court are made cognizable by Court of Petty Sessions at which the Stipendiary Magistrate is to preside, having as his coadjutors any of the Magistrates of the settlement who may be fit to attend; and to render this Court perfectly independent...
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2026-05-17 10:11:39 · Baseline
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administration of cluctice. This recommendation appears at first sight rational and cary of compliance, but it the most difficult. would be perhaps one of tasks to accomplish, for so long as the administration of clustice

of Justice is with. Supreme fourt, it must, more or less be subject to the delays, uncertainties and technicalities incidental to the system pursued in the (gurts in England. To render_

even to British subjects

thom intelligible

would be a work

a

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All l

of no ordinary difficulty to Chince it would be altogether useless to attempt it, but I do not think that new code is required, for it is not our. Laws to which the inhabitants generally, Chinese and others, if they could exquer themselves would object, but to the delays; fictions and technicalities with which those Laws administered. That a short abstract of crimes and their punishments might

are

be drawn up and published_ is true enough,

but the Chinese

as well as all other nations

know tolerably well. what is morally wrong,

and that murders, thefts, aots

of

vidence and

Laws

of all

the like, are punishable by the Loves

nations._

1.1-4/49 7

Confirmed. 18. May last

AB.

While on this

subjcet

I would beg. to

remind Your Lordship that by this mail au bedinance" will arrive at the Colonial office for approval, which provides for the decision and punishment of the lesser and mor prevalent crimes in a speedy and. Surumary By this Ordinance certain minn

Anamnez.

Crimes heretofore only determinable by the Supreme font are made eognizable by Count of Potty Sessions at which the stipendiang Magistrate is to preside, having as his coadjutors any of the Magistrates of settlement who

trate is to

May

the

a fit

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j

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