CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 475

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

A letter from the Governor of Macao, which gives briefly the same interesting details as to the Portuguese Law on that subject. I had thought it desirable, as the Portuguese Community here had petitioned for an alteration in the laws of Hong Kong, to ascertain from the best authority what their law on the same subject is in the neighboring Colony of Macao. It appears from Governor de Souza's reply that in principle it is almost identical with English Law as interpreted by Mr. Pauncefote, and if his interpretation of it be correct, it is probable there is no need of any change. It is already equally liberal, and gives effectual remedies as Portuguese Law to a party libelled, with the great additional safeguards of publicity in proceedings and the verdict of a Jury.

In the case which gave rise to the Petition of the Portuguese Community, because Mr. Smale considered it not triable here, a civil action was actually tried yesterday and resulted in a verdict of a Special Jury in favor of the Plaintiff with $5,000 damages. The Jury added an expression of opinion that the Plaintiff was entitled to general sympathy as having been subjected to an unjust and malicious charge.

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A letter from the Governor of Macao, which gives briefly the same interesting details as to the Portuguese Law on that subject. I had thought it desirable, as the Portuguese Community here had petitioned for an alteration in the laws of Hong Kong, to ascertain from the best authority what their law on the same subject is in the neighboring Colony of Macao. It appears from Governor de Souza's reply that in principle it is almost identical with English Law as interpreted by Mr. Pauncefote, and if his interpretation of it be correct, it is probable there is no need of any change. It is already equally liberal, and gives effectual remedies as Portuguese Law to a party libelled, with the great additional safeguards of publicity in proceedings and the verdict of a Jury. In the case which gave rise to the Petition of the Portuguese Community, because Mr. Smale considered it not triable here, a civil action was actually tried yesterday and resulted in a verdict of a Special Jury in favor of the Plaintiff with $5,000 damages. The Jury added an expression of opinion that the Plaintiff was entitled to general sympathy as having been subjected to an unjust and malicious charge.
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A } 472 A letter from the Governor of Macas, which gives briefly same inter interesting details as to the Portuguese Law on that subject. I had thought it desirable, as the " Portuguese Community here had petitiored for an alteration in the laws of Hongthing to ascertain from the bist auchority what their adw law ai the same subject is in श्र the neighboring Colony of Macao. appears from Governor de Souza's reply that in principle it is almost identical with English Law Ao interpreted by Mr Pauncefote, and if his interpretation of it be correct, of course no as probable, there is of any change. It is need of any already equally liberal, and gives effectual remedies as remedies as Portuguese Lave to 다. a party libelled, with the great additional safeguards of publicity all Jury in proceedings and the verdict of a In the which very avli Pereira i Souza, case, Pereira rise to the Petition of the Portugues Community because Mr. Smale considered it not triable here, civil action A Mas "yesterday actually tried and) resulted in a verdict of a Special Jerry in favor of the Plaintiff with $5,000 damages. damages. The Jury, added an MOY LOUDri expression of opinion that entitled to general the Plaintiff Avas having beur subjected sympathy as having to annajaned from a thoroughly unsupporte and malicions charge.
2026-05-20 06:13:09 · Baseline
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A

}

472

A

letter from the Governor of Macas, which

gives briefly

same inter

interesting details as

to the Portuguese Law on that subject.

I had thought it desirable, as the " Portuguese Community here had petitiored

for

an alteration in the laws of Hongthing

to ascertain from the bist auchority what

their

adw

law

ai

the same subject is in

श्र

the neighboring Colony of Macao. appears from Governor de Souza's reply

that in principle it is almost identical

with

English Law

Ao

interpreted by

Mr Pauncefote, and if his interpretation

of it be correct,

of

course no

as

probable, there is of any change. It is

need of any

already equally liberal, and gives effectual remedies

as

remedies as Portuguese Lave to

다.

a party libelled, with the great additional safeguards of publicity

all

Jury

in

proceedings and the verdict of a

In the

which

very

avli

Pereira i Souza, case, Pereira

rise to the Petition of

the Portugues Community because Mr.

Smale considered it not triable here,

civil action

A

Mas

"yesterday actually tried and)

resulted in

a

verdict of a Special

Jerry in favor of the Plaintiff with $5,000 damages.

damages. The Jury,

added an

MOY LOUDri

expression of opinion that entitled to general

the Plaintiff

Avas

having beur subjected

sympathy as having

to annajaned from a thoroughly unsupporte and malicions charge.

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