CO129-161 - Public Offices - 1872 — Page 454

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

to be

Land

which is

fully

not

likely

discussed before long in

this country.

the subject of in the House

Session:

and

of

1 way

Bili presented

Commers

this

I believe however that in Hong Kong, an Ordinance permitting the Interrogation of Prisoners when brought before the Magistrate would greatly facilitate the investigation of the case and the Elucidation of the truth. It would not be attended with injustice, for were thus elicited of any facts from the Prisoner favorable or unfavorable to his defence which he might desire to substantiate or rebut by further Evidences he might be remanded as often as the circumstances required.

Summary

Conviction cases he could appeal to the Supreme Court and in all cases of Committal the Judge at the Trial might exercise a discretion and exclude from the Jury any consideration of answers improperly elicited by the Magistrate.

The preliminary investigation of charges would, I believe, be found to work extremely well, for it would possess the advantages of the French and other continental Systems without their objectionable feature - the Secrecy of the Proceedings "Prison de Prévention". It would also assist in bringing the case for the Crown as well as for the Prisoner before the Jury in as complete a form as possible and would do much to prevent the inconvenience arising from Defences springing up at the Trial.

The Acting Chief Justice on the contrary approves of the Interrogation of Prisoners at the Trial but objects to their Interrogation during the preliminary investigation of the case before the Magistrate. I cannot concur with him in recommending this plan.

The advantage gained by interrogating the Prisoner while before the Magistrate is obvious; facts can be elicited there, and witnesses necessary for both the Prosecution and the Defence can be at once procured and bound to appear at the Trial; but if the Interrogation is not to take place until the case is before the Jury, the Prisoner would always reserve his defence until the Trial in the hope that the Interrogation then might elicit new facts requiring the attendance of new witnesses and would necessitate an adjournment, which in a criminal Trial is much to be deprecated.

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to be Land which is fully not likely discussed before long in this country. the subject of in the House Session: and of 1 way Bili presented Commers this I believe however that in Hong Kong, an Ordinance permitting the Interrogation of Prisoners when brought before the Magistrate would greatly facilitate the investigation of the case and the Elucidation of the truth. It would not be attended with injustice, for were thus elicited of any facts from the Prisoner favorable or unfavorable to his defence which he might desire to substantiate or rebut by further Evidences he might be remanded as often as the circumstances required. Summary Conviction cases he could appeal to the Supreme Court and in all cases of Committal the Judge at the Trial might exercise a discretion and exclude from the Jury any consideration of answers improperly elicited by the Magistrate. The preliminary investigation of charges would, I believe, be found to work extremely well, for it would possess the advantages of the French and other continental Systems without their objectionable feature - the Secrecy of the Proceedings "Prison de Prévention". It would also assist in bringing the case for the Crown as well as for the Prisoner before the Jury in as complete a form as possible and would do much to prevent the inconvenience arising from Defences springing up at the Trial. The Acting Chief Justice on the contrary approves of the Interrogation of Prisoners at the Trial but objects to their Interrogation during the preliminary investigation of the case before the Magistrate. I cannot concur with him in recommending this plan. The advantage gained by interrogating the Prisoner while before the Magistrate is obvious; facts can be elicited there, and witnesses necessary for both the Prosecution and the Defence can be at once procured and bound to appear at the Trial; but if the Interrogation is not to take place until the case is before the Jury, the Prisoner would always reserve his defence until the Trial in the hope that the Interrogation then might elicit new facts requiring the attendance of new witnesses and would necessitate an adjournment, which in a criminal Trial is much to be deprecated.
Baseline (Original)
to be Land which is fully not likely discussed before long in this country. the subject of in the House Session: and of سلام 1 way ece Bili presented Commers this I believe however that in tong Kong, an Ordinance permit- ting the Interrogation of Prisoners when brought before the Magistrate would greatly facilitate the investigation of the case and the Elucidation of the truth. It would not be attended with injustice, for were thus elicited of any facts from the Prisoner favorable or unfavorable to his defence which he night desire to substantiate to rebut by further Evidences he might be remanded as often as the circumstances required. Summary Conviction Яге he could appeal to the Supreme cases of Committal the Sudge at the Trial might exercise a tion and exclude from the the Jury any consideration of answers improperly elicited by the Magistrate. OC... Court and in all The preliminary of charges discre. Investigation tem would This system extremely well, for it would I believe be found to work possess the advantages of the Fecuch and other continental without their objecto- Systems -nable feature which the R Secrecy of the Proceedings 448 the "Prison de Prévention? It would also assist in bringing the case for the for the Prisoner. Crown ALJ well a in before the Surg. Form as much complete a possible and would do to prevent the inconvenience arising from Defences springing up at the Trial. the The Acting Chief Justice on contrary approves of the Interrogation of Prisoners at the Trial but objects to their Interrogation during the preliminary investigation of the case before the chagistrate I cannot concur with him in recommending this plan. ed by inter The advantage gained by rogating the Prisoner while before all the the Magistrate is obvious; facts can be elicited there, and ace witnesses necessary for both Itic Prosecution and the Refence can be at once procured and at the to appear bound Trial; but if the Interrogation is not to take place until the case is before the Jury, the Prin over reserve his -Soven would alway. refence until the Trial in the hope teal the Interrogation then might elicit new facts requiring the attendance of new with esses and would necessitate Bl which in a crin adjournment -merial Trial is very be deprecated. Of no much to adjour
2026-05-20 23:41:39 · Baseline
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to be

Land

which is

fully

not

likely

discussed before long in

this country.

the subject of in the House

Session:

and

of

سلام

1

way

ece

Bili presented

Commers

this

I believe however that in

tong Kong,

an

Ordinance permit- ting the Interrogation of Prisoners when brought before the Magistrate

would greatly facilitate the investigation of the case and the Elucidation of the truth. It would not be attended with injustice, for

were thus elicited of any facts from the Prisoner favorable or unfavorable to his defence which he night desire to substantiate to rebut by further Evidences he might be remanded as often as the circumstances required.

Summary

Conviction Яге he could appeal to the Supreme

cases of Committal the Sudge at the Trial might exercise a tion and exclude from the

the Jury any consideration of answers improperly elicited by the Magistrate.

OC...

Court and in all

The preliminary

of charges

discre.

Investigation

tem would

This system

extremely

well, for it would

I believe be found to work

possess the advantages of the

Fecuch and other continental without their objecto- Systems -nable feature which

the

R

Secrecy of

the Proceedings

448

the

"Prison de Prévention? It would also assist in bringing the case for the for the Prisoner.

Crown

ALJ

well a

in

before the Surg.

Form as

much

complete a

possible and would do to prevent the inconvenience

arising from Defences springing up at the Trial.

the

The Acting Chief Justice on contrary approves of the Interrogation of Prisoners at the Trial but objects to their Interrogation during the preliminary investigation of the case before the chagistrate I cannot concur with him in recommending this plan.

ed by inter The advantage gained by

rogating the Prisoner while before all the the Magistrate is obvious; facts can be elicited there, and ace witnesses necessary for both Itic Prosecution and the Refence can be at

once procured and

at the to appear bound Trial; but if the Interrogation is not to take place until the case is before the Jury, the Prin

over

reserve

his

-Soven would alway. refence until the Trial in the hope

teal the Interrogation then

might elicit new facts requiring

the attendance of new with esses and would necessitate

Bl

which in a crin

adjournment -merial Trial is very

be deprecated. Of no

much to

adjour

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