CO129-176 - Public Offices & Others - 1876 — Page 345

Consul in Hongkong to grant to the Police officent to the functionare. of the local courts the facilities "they require for the discharge of this duties when called upon to: Execute legal Powers on

of Criminials & absconding debtors supposed to be on

beant How beslo of the messageries maritimes lying in the Harbour of Victoria;

I also state that the exercise of jurisdiction by the local courts over offences Committed on board the vessels in the Harbour is in some cases seriously obstructed.

The principal object of the Postal Convention which secures to these vessels the privileges & immunities of ships of war, was to provide against the inconvenience which arises from the Detention by the Process of the Local Tribunals of the mail Steamers of one country when in the Ports of the other; and it is while every care should be taken to maintain this convention in its integrity for all legitimate purposes, it is in the interest of both courts to guard against any unreasonable application of it which might operate to the detriment of public Justice.

There can be no doubt in a port like that of Hongkong the crews of the messageries maritimes afford great facilities for the Escape of fugitive criminals and absconding Debtors, and therefore the Colonial Authorities naturally require the good offices of the French Consul to prevent abuse of the privileges of the Vessels. Indeed the Secretary of this Colony sent a Despatch to the Governor of Hongkong.

Page 340

(The original text has been proofread and formatted according to the given rules. The text is now in HTML format using

for paragraphs.)

Irce that should les hablam to maintains this caine strès neefulshopulation in its intezity for all legitimate off purposes -> Every care that should be taken to maintain this convention in its integrity for all legitimate purposes

has been re-written, instead it should be: Every care that should be taken to maintain this convention in its integrity for all legitimate purposes -> Every care should be taken to maintain this convention in its integrity for all legitimate purposes

Corrected version:

Consul in Hongkong to grant to the Police officers of the local courts the facilities they require for the discharge of their duties when called upon to execute legal powers on

of Criminals & absconding debtors supposed to be on board the Messageries Maritimes lying in the Harbour of Victoria;

I also state that the exercise of jurisdiction by the local courts over offences committed on board the vessels in the Harbour is in some cases seriously obstructed.

The principal object of the Postal Convention which secures to these vessels the privileges & immunities of ships of war, was to provide against the inconvenience which arises from the detention by the process of the local tribunals of the mail steamers of one country when in the ports of the other; and it is while every care should be taken to maintain this convention in its integrity for all legitimate purposes, it is in the interest of both courts to guard against any unreasonable application of it which might operate to the detriment of public justice.

There can be no doubt in a port like that of Hongkong the crews of the messageries maritimes afford great facilities for the escape of fugitive criminals and absconding debtors, and therefore the colonial authorities naturally require the good offices of the French Consul to prevent abuse of the privileges of the vessels. Indeed the Secretary of this Colony sent a despatch to the Governor of Hongkong.

Consul in Hongkong to grant to the Police officers of the local courts the facilities they require for the discharge of their duties when called upon to execute legal powers on

of Criminals & absconding debtors supposed to be on board the Messageries Maritimes lying in the Harbour of Victoria;

I also state that the exercise of jurisdiction by the local courts over offences committed on board the vessels in the Harbour is in some cases seriously obstructed.

The principal object of the Postal Convention which secures to these vessels the privileges & immunities of ships of war, was to provide against the inconvenience which arises from the detention by the process of the local tribunals of the mail steamers of one country when in the ports of the other; and it is while every care should be taken to maintain this convention in its integrity for all legitimate purposes, it is in the interest of both courts to guard against any unreasonable application of it which might operate to the detriment of public justice.

There can be no doubt in a port like that of Hongkong the crews of the messageries maritimes afford great facilities for the escape of fugitive criminals and absconding debtors, and therefore the colonial authorities naturally require the good offices of the French Consul to prevent abuse of the privileges of the vessels. Indeed the Secretary of this Colony sent a despatch to the Governor of Hongkong.

Page 340