CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 135

we

at Hongkong had been accorded such Exterritonal privileges

as would permit o mariages celebrated at the consulate being regarded as externtonal. Igatter that they know nothing about this point that they wont decide (what. ditasi wakt them to decide) whether consuls as such have such marriage privileges. I scarcely think we need refu to the LO & we might reff to gor ? that Mr Cisadvised that the question is one to be decided by the haw of the Colony of independent gony question of

but that under internation at Comity the crcumstances his decision to take

an

an

o pescedings has cher C's affind

HBC 31 May

LF. A. For concurrence.

So proved-

Lending off

Ets

2 pem

alove

Gov

9716

Sir:-

FOREIGN OFFICE

130

C. 0.

11536

May 23rd,

£898 MAY

I am directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to

acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th in-

stant with regard to a marriage recently celebrated

by an American clergyman in the United States Consulate

at Hongkong without compliance with the requirements

of the law of the Colony.

It is not clear whether this marriage actual ly

involved a breach of the Law on the part of the Minis-

ter who solemnized it, or whether it was merely invalid'

according to the Law of the Colony.

Whether however the marriage was illegal, or was

merely invalid it equally appears to His Lordship that

the question is one to be decided by the Law of Hong-

Kong at the time, independently of any considerations

of International comity.

Should Mr. Secretary Chamberlain be advised,

after

consultation

he Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.