means of obtaining the object proposed, their Lordships request that I will advise them what steps should be taken in the matter. The enclosures in the Colonial Office letter, consist of an Extract from Despatch which has been received from the Governor of Hong Kong, and copies of a memorandum by the Colonial Secretary and of the Ordinance in question.
It would seem from these Documents that by reason of the very heavy expenses attending proceedings in the Vice Admiralty Court, private property recaptured from Pirates in the China Seas, cannot be restored to its rightful owners except at a Cost in many cases wholly disproportioned to its value, and that such property is in consequence generally distributed in violation or neglect of the law. Accordingly the Ordinance in question was passed, giving power to the Court of Petty Sessions, and to the Stipendiary Magistrate of Hong Kong, to decide all such cases, where the value of the property does not exceed 250 Dollars, and as provided by the 2nd Clause of which no difficult question of Law is involved.
In transmitting these Documents, Sir Fred Rogers observes that the ordinance, being in apparent conflict with the Imperial Statute before referred to, cannot be allowed to remain in force, but he adds that it appears to His Grace the Duke of Newcastle most desirable to remove the serious practical inconvenience resulting from the present state of the Law.
If the facts be as stated by the Colonial Authorities, and of which I think there can be...
means of obtaining the object proposed, their Lordships request that I will advise them what steps should be taken in the
matter. The enclosures in the Colonial
Office letter, cousit of an Extract from Despatch which has been received
OL
· from the Governor of Hong Kong, and copies of a memorandum by the Colonice Secreting and of the Ordinance in
question
It would seem from these Documents that by
reason of the very heavy expenser attending proceedings in the bice Admiral Court, private property recaptured from
Pirates in the China Seas, cannot be restored to its rightful broners
t
except
at a Cost
in many cases wholly disproportioned
to this value, and that such property
is in
consequence generally distribuited
in violation or neglect of the law. Accordingly
:
ر
the Ordinance in question was passed,
passed, the giver power to the Court of Petty Sessions, and to the Stipendiary Magistrate of Hong Kong, to
2nd Clause of which
decide all such cases, where the value
of the
Sollars, and as
property
does not exceed 250
difficult question of
Law is involved. In transmitting there Documents, Sir Fred Rogers observes that the ordinance, being in apparent
conflict with the duperial Statute before referred to, cannot be allowed to remain in force, but he adds that it appears to His the Duke of Newcastle nuost
desirable to remove the serious practical
Grace
inconvenience
resulting from the present
state of the Law_
If the facts be as stated by the Colonie
Authorities, and of which Ithink there can
the
be
cil
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.