CO129-085 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [1-4] — Page 259

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

257

It was thought best that the bivil Jurisdiction should be taken from the Magistrates functions and transferred to a Tribunal essentially bivil.

The remaining duties of euch _ Magistrate being the same it breame

proper to abolish the distinction between Chief and Assistant Magistrate. This Ordinance therefore abolishes the former Offices, and constitutes two Police Magistrates, and by clause 4. these Magistrates have Summary

all Crimes fc.

are

Jurisdiction over the limits of penalty for which, either Imprisonment, fine, or whipping, but clause 5 defines the limited powers of punishment given to them .

¿

These powers will enable the Magistrates

in all minor cases

of crime to deal

summarily with the cases, instead of sending all to the Supreme Court - when though technically of a grave -description they

the case

are, as is

of a petty

very often

character

It is believed that Police Magistrate

them

be

may

equal to the Criminal business which will be brought before found among

the

experienced residents

of the Colony whose knowledge of Chinese habits will be most useful,

and preferable to a

small amount.

of legal knowledge without such

practical experience.

It will be observed that

no case

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