CO129-109 - Public Offices - 1865 — Page 332

that . In foot are as yet imperfectly, informeed

in regard

to the case

of the surrendered

Prate. But that when the reports which have been asked for have been received from the bating (ood of Hongkong & from & H. Consul "Canton, they would be referred to us.

But that in the meanwhile there are

: ther questions on which

to have our opinion.

Soor

your Lordship desired

The question of the claim of the beting Good of Hong Kong to Correspond directly. with the local authorities at Canton has

been disposed of by his Secy (ardwells Instruction prohibiting that practice.

The material questions arise under the 16th & 20th Articles of the Kreaty of Lentein. The pot of these articles is clearly limited to the tried & punishment by their own Authorities of Chinese subjects who

arc

charged with having committed crimes within the dominious of the Emperor of China.

The

in the Ne for Owe

The main difficulty

arises under the 2830 Article which provides for the General surrender

of Chinese (riminals charged with offences Committed in China for whom a demand has

been made & supported by Evidence, on the British Colonial Authorities.

H

It appears that there are certain crimes I'll punishable in (hime by a lingering a cruel death:

the crime of Pracy..

before the

toy of Plantoin

u din k

these is the crime

Among these

1055, a question

In the year 1855, a year

arose as to the

disposal of Perates captured by British Raval Forces on the coast of China . That question: was at the time considered by the Legal Authorities; in accordance with whose opinion #. R. Naval Officers have since been instructed, while delivering up to the Chinese Authorities Prates Explored in thing thinese jurisdiction, to make "an sxpress stipulation with the said Authorities that the Prates receive a fair trial & are not subjected to torture or an Subjected to torture or any punishment

repugnant to the usages of Civilized nations:

hr

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