CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8] — Page 424

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Enclosure 3.

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Minute by the doty Attorneypedal.

dery

COPY.

Honourable Colonial Secretary.

In the case of a cession of territory the population

of such territory is subjected ( unless otherwise stipulated

by treaty ) to the soverlengty of the state by which such ter-

Internahmal

ritory is acquired (see Hall on substantial law 2nd. Edition page

527').

In the present case however the new territory has

not been ceded to us but has only been leased to us for ninety

nine years, and I am, therefore, of opinion that Cheung Ting

Shung cannot be regarded as a British subject.

In view, however, of the great importance of this

question, and of the doubt of direct legal authority upon this

subject, I would suggest that it would be proper to request the

Secretary of State to take the opinion of the English Law Officers

of the Crown upon this question of nationality.

It is most desirable that such a question should be

definitely settled by high authority, as it may become of con-

siderable moment in the administration of justice and in other

matters.

(Signed) H. E. Pollock, Acting Attorney General.

8/7/99.

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