CO129-256 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [8-12] — Page 565

3

561

1

to condemn to a r

retrograde

action. It is in these Courts that British rule with its ad_ vantages, and its drawbacks

brought home most closely to

is

the Chinese mind, and

any change should be in the direction of expanding its sphere of access, and not of curtailing proaches. It is of

the

its ap-

that

greatest importance that proper publicity should be given to what is trans. acted in the Courts, and I be lieve that nothing gives greater satisfaction to either European Chinese than the knowledge the administration of justice carried on in public, and that the presence of interested parties is counted rather than discouraged.

the By

opportunities of access to the public which the trial of

prismers

منا

prisoners inn

open

Court affords,

it is constantly in the power of Magistrates to explain the bearing of particular laws which are

in themselves alien to the instincts of

a na

English fr. thereby to miti- apparent harshness

of

pulation, and the gate

" sentences passed

an act in con.

havention of such laws.

Any scheme, therefore

which proposes a change of site

for the Na

Magistracy

should I

would suomit provide greater

mistead of smaller facilities than those which now exist, and I

trust that His Excellen

Governor will not give

cy

the-

the weight

of his recommendation to the - plan upon which I have been. allowed to report. Even if by

re

· arrangement

it could be made

more