CO129-177 - Sir Kennedy Acting Governor Austin Lieut Governor Hennessy - 1877 [1-5] — Page 366

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

They were committed for trial at the Supreme Court by the adjudicating Magistrate, but the Attorney General, upon reading the depositions, was very doubtful whether the Supreme Court had any jurisdiction in such a case. He expressed this doubt in a letter to me, a copy of which is enclosed; he suggested that in dealing with this particular case, it would be unadvisable to raise the point and that it would be more judicious to invite the Military Authorities to take them away (with a view to their being tried by Court Martial).

This was accordingly done, and consequently, there has been no miscarriage of justice. If, however, the Attorney General's opinion be correct with regard to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in similar cases, it is obvious that had the offenders been brought to trial, a miscarriage of justice would in all probability have taken place.

As British Kowloon is now rapidly developing, and as recurrences of such cases, in which civilians are the principal actors, are not at all unlikely,

Page 364

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They were committed for trial at the Supreme Court by the adjudicating Magistrate, but the Attorney General, upon reading the depositions, was very doubtful whether the Supreme Court had any jurisdiction in such a case. He expressed this doubt in a letter to me, a copy of which is enclosed; he suggested that in dealing with this particular case, it would be unadvisable to raise the point and that it would be more judicious to invite the Military Authorities to take them away (with a view to their being tried by Court Martial). This was accordingly done, and consequently, there has been no miscarriage of justice. If, however, the Attorney General's opinion be correct with regard to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in similar cases, it is obvious that had the offenders been brought to trial, a miscarriage of justice would in all probability have taken place. As British Kowloon is now rapidly developing, and as recurrences of such cases, in which civilians are the principal actors, are not at all unlikely, Page 364
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2026-05-21 16:14:42 · Baseline
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They

wew

committed for trial

at the Supreme Count by the adjudicating Magistrate, but the Attorney General upon reading the depositions

very doubtful. wherter the Supreme leant had any jurisdiction in such

in a letter to me

and

of

which is enclosed;

A.....

copy

zuggated

that in dealing wit this particular

case it would be unadvisable to raise the point and that it

would be

mwe

judicious to

invite the Military Authorities

to take them new

wich

a

view)

to their being tried by beant

Martial

7

This accordingly

Имала

364

done,

and consequently there has been

carriage of justice. If:

منس

havener the Attaney Goumats:

opinion be correct with

regard

diction of the Supreme

to the jurisdi

leant

in similar

similar caves,

it is

obvines that had the offenders

been livition

mis

jiletë

complete of justice umed in

carriage of justice all probability have taken place).

As British Kaulan is now

rapidly developing, and anal

recurreneu

such cases

of such

in

which leivilian be principal. actors is not-at-all likely

!

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