CO129-125 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [10-11] — Page 8

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

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6

the Admiral of the Station, having

a

regard

to his precedence, could be

properly

asked to sit as

member

of

a

Court presided over

by a person

of inferior dignity, whilst as to the Senior Naval

Officer

there seems great

doubt whether his numerous duties make it desirable that he should

the obliged to attend the Court

12.

very

much regret that this view should have been taken, because the

higher the rank of the Naval Officer sitting in the Piracy Court the

in

greater would be the dignity of the

Court and the

respect extended to

its decisions.

I would also respectfully remind

Your Grace

to place

a

note in explanation of the wish

for a Naval

Officer of rank.

It appears from the Colonial Regulations cap

VI

Section 157 that it was contemplated

that the Naval Commander in Chief should

sit in Piracy Courts, because express provision is made for his occupying

the

chair on

the right hand of the President, who

according to ancient

usage in such Courts should be a legal functionary.

Under the

Ordinance in question the President would be either the Chief Justice or the

Judge of the

Court of Summary Jurisdiction, being the highest legal Officials in the Colony.

4. I would also remind Your Grace that

when formerly, as for example in the West Indies,

it

was a

frequent practice to hold


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Page 3 6 the Admiral of the Station, having a regard to his precedence, could be properly asked to sit as member of a Court presided over by a person of inferior dignity, whilst as to the Senior Naval Officer there seems great doubt whether his numerous duties make it desirable that he should the obliged to attend the Court 12. very much regret that this view should have been taken, because the higher the rank of the Naval Officer sitting in the Piracy Court the in greater would be the dignity of the Court and the respect extended to its decisions. I would also respectfully remind Your Grace to place a note in explanation of the wish for a Naval Officer of rank. It appears from the Colonial Regulations cap VI Section 157 that it was contemplated that the Naval Commander in Chief should sit in Piracy Courts, because express provision is made for his occupying the chair on the right hand of the President, who according to ancient usage in such Courts should be a legal functionary. Under the Ordinance in question the President would be either the Chief Justice or the Judge of the Court of Summary Jurisdiction, being the highest legal Officials in the Colony. 4. I would also remind Your Grace that when formerly, as for example in the West Indies, it was a frequent practice to hold Page 6 3 2
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2 Page 3 6 the Admiral of the Station, having a regard to his precedence, could be properly asked to sit as member of of a boust presided over by a person of inferior dignity, whilst as to the Senior Naval Officer there seems great doubt whether his numerous duties Imake it desirable that he should the obliged to attend the baurt 12. very much regret that this view should have been taken, because the fhigher the rank of the Naval Officer Bitting in the Tincy Court the in greater would be the dignity of the Court and the respect extended to + lito decisions. I would also respectfully remind 3 2 Your Grace to place a in explanation of the wish Naval on the Officer of rank. bourt that in the bolonial Regulations cap VI Section 157 it appears to have been contemplated that the Naval Commander in Chief should sit in Piracy kounts, because expreß provision made for his occupying therein Ca chair on the right hand of the President, who according to ancient usage in such bouts should be a legal functionary. Under the Ordinance in question the President would be either the Chief Justice on the on the judge of Judge of the lecurt of Summary furisdiction, being the highest legal Officials in the Colony. 4. I would also remind Your Space that when formerly as for excumple in the West Indies, it was a frequent pradice to hold
2026-05-19 21:56:04 · Baseline
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2

Page

3

6

the Admiral of the Station, having

a

regard

to his precedence, could be

properly

asked to sit as

member

of

of a

boust presided over

by a person

of inferior dignity, whilst as to the Senior Naval

Officer

there seems great

doubt whether his numerous duties Imake it desirable that he should

the obliged to attend the baurt

12.

very

much regret that this view should have been taken, because the

fhigher the rank of the Naval Officer Bitting in the Tincy Court the in

greater would be the dignity of the

Court and the

respect extended to

+

lito decisions.

I would also respectfully remind

3

2

Your Grace

to place

a

in explanation of the wish

Naval

on

the

Officer of rank. bourt that in the bolonial Regulations cap

VI

Section 157 it appears to have been contemplated

that the Naval Commander in Chief should

sit in Piracy kounts, because expreß provision made for his occupying

therein

Ca

chair on

the right hand of the President, who

according to ancient

usage in such bouts should be a legal functionary. Under the

Ordinance in question the President would be either the Chief Justice on the

on the judge of

Judge of the

lecurt of Summary furisdiction, being the highest legal Officials in the Colony. 4. I would also remind Your Space that

when formerly as for excumple in the West Indies, it

was a

frequent pradice to hold

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