CO129-134 - Public Offices - 1868 — Page 412

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

410

forward a copy of this despatch to the Governor of Hongkong, for information, in reply to his Communication of the 6th October 1866, which has, no doubt, been forwarded to H.M.'s Government from the Colonial Office. It will be seen that I have in addition stated to Sir Th. F. Wade that I do not share in his fear of the prisoners under the Rendition Clause being allowed to go free simply because they refused to confess, or on account of their exemption from a punishment under conditions, which, to the majority of the accused, must be worse than death. He is evidently mistaken as to the nature & extent of the guarantee given by the Chinese authorities, which has reference only to the final sentence & not to the execution of judicial procedure or trial.

According to Chinese Law, trial is conducted in the same mode of examination & trial as prisoners accused of like crimes; confession is most likely to be obtained. But, failing this, they will certainly not escape from the hands of justice unless under very rare & exceptional circumstances, such as the aid of powerful friends, or the command of large bribery might create corruption or interference with the stipulation or in the administration of justice - a contingency altogether absent at present.

I have &c.,

R. Alcock.

12

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410 forward a copy of this despatch to the Governor of Hongkong, for information, in reply to his Communication of the 6th October 1866, which has, no doubt, been forwarded to H.M.'s Government from the Colonial Office. It will be seen that I have in addition stated to Sir Th. F. Wade that I do not share in his fear of the prisoners under the Rendition Clause being allowed to go free simply because they refused to confess, or on account of their exemption from a punishment under conditions, which, to the majority of the accused, must be worse than death. He is evidently mistaken as to the nature & extent of the guarantee given by the Chinese authorities, which has reference only to the final sentence & not to the execution of judicial procedure or trial. According to Chinese Law, trial is conducted in the same mode of examination & trial as prisoners accused of like crimes; confession is most likely to be obtained. But, failing this, they will certainly not escape from the hands of justice unless under very rare & exceptional circumstances, such as the aid of powerful friends, or the command of large bribery might create corruption or interference with the stipulation or in the administration of justice - a contingency altogether absent at present. I have &c., R. Alcock. 12
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410 forward a copy of this despatch to the forernor of Houstory, for 4.8.4 information, in reply to his Communication of the oto Tog Jeb: 1866, 1866, wh has, 110 ปี doubt, been forwarded to J.D. from the Colonial Office It will be seen that I have in addition stated to Sir Th. In Donnell that I do not share in his fear of the prisoners under the rendition Clause because of a being allowed to go free simply refused to confess, or "their" ixcmption from a . rivournent under conditions, wh Lengthened imprisonment to the the accused, must be worse majority of te istaken so to the than death. He is evidently min nature & Extent extent of the guarantee given by Chinese authorities who has reference only 1 the to the final sentence & not to the the Execution of judicial procedure or trial. according Trial. It conducted to Chinese Law Fubject et to the same all other? mode of A4) excorination & trial like crines, confession is prisoners accused of like crimes, most most likely to be obtained. But, failing will certainly not excape from unless under very rare & Exce the hands. this, they of justice Exceptional circumstances, such as the aid of powerful friends, or the Command of targe Incand bribery might create: of corruption this is a interference Stipulation or in altogether present. I have de (5? | R. Alcock. 12 contingency —-པ་- part ca
2026-05-19 22:59:07 · Baseline
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410

forward a copy of this despatch to the

forernor of

Houstory, for 4.8.4 information, in reply to his

Communication

of

the oto

Tog

Jeb: 1866,

1866, wh has, 110

ปี

doubt, been forwarded to J.D. from the Colonial

Office It will be seen that I have in addition stated

to Sir Th. In Donnell that I do not share in his fear of the prisoners under the rendition Clause

because

of a

being allowed to go free simply refused to confess, or "their" ixcmption from a

.

rivournent under conditions, wh

Lengthened imprisonment

to the

the accused, must be worse

majority of te

istaken so to the

than death. He is evidently min

nature & Extent

extent of the guarantee given by

Chinese authorities who has reference only

1

the

to

the

final

sentence & not to the

the Execution of judicial procedure or trial.

according

Trial. It conducted

to Chinese Law

Fubject

et to the same

all other?

mode

of

A4)

excorination & trial

like crines, confession is

prisoners accused of like crimes,

most

most likely to be obtained. But, failing

will certainly not excape from

unless under very rare & Exce

the hands.

this, they

of justice

Exceptional circumstances,

such as the aid of powerful friends, or the

Command

of targe

Incand

bribery might create:

of corruption

this is a

interference

Stipulation or in

altogether present.

I have de

(5? | R. Alcock.

12

contingency

—-པ་-

part ca

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