472
A little difference exaggerates them in the minds of ordinary jury men into wilful felonies.
In my opinion, and I'm Police & subordinate inspectors of a beat able to judge, a Magistrate with some experience of the ways of Chinese, and Police Constables (and especially Magistrates with a knowledge of the Chinese Language) are better able to investigate the facts of a case and are therefore more likely to do justice than an ordinary jury composed of persons of various nationalities, many of whom have but imperfect knowledge of English.
The case of obtaining false pretences at the last Criminal Sessions is a case in point. The Magistrate only committed the prisoner for trial because of a previous conviction (and sentences to 12 months imprisonment).
It is likely that a Chinese defendant in Hong Kong, composed as it is of persons of various nationalities, many of whom have but imperfect knowledge of English, would be misunderstood. Very few of our jurymen understand the case properly.
It is such circumstances of this Colony that lead to the "unfitness of juries" (to quote the words of the late Mr. Stewart, a former Attorney General, Registrar General and Colonial Secretary) which have long since almost passed into a proverb.
472
A littl
sinch
differences exaggerates them in
the minds of ordinary jury men into wilful fellihoods.
In
my
that
opinion, and im
Polica & shvac durspectors of
who
a
beat able to juage,
Magistrate with some experience
awn the
and ways of Chiness,
of
Police Cont work
(and expecially
Magistrals with
a kremoledge of
China Language)
investigation, is im
THE
better
facts of a
and is
therefore
justice than
A
ordinary
Chinese and if they do
sit too far off to hear
Witnesses.
The
Cave
all
the
of obisining
false pretences at look Criminal Sessions is a
Carv
in point. The Magistrate only
committed the prisoner für
trial
because
巍
previous
Conviction (and sentences
to 12 months imprisonment,
provided he is patient in his
position for getting at the time
Chinese case
likely Londo
HongKong Lucy, composed
it is of persons of various nationality
many of whom have beat imperfect knowledge of English.
Very feer of our
jurymen
vendit.
for the
recy
juny acquitter him.
It is such
offence. The
collapses of
criminal procure
to the
" the unfitness of which
ciremustances of this Colony
"hand
مم
" into
long since almost passed
اری
movers" (to quote the
of the linie DiStewart
a former dengutente, Registrar Geneal and
Colonial Serretary
in
stered
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