CO129-293 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [8-9] — Page 309

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

306

reported above to give assistance & support: it would not do to ignore appeals for help: nor to take no notice of outrages when they have been reported: the result might be a large increase of them reflecting possibly later on on the safety of the troops.

In my opinion therefore the method to adopt is to investigate: to show a power of force to these people but not to press too closely home the conviction of offenders in these private quarrels, otherwise I think that grave dangers & difficulties will be involved.

Supposing for example I could have laid my hand on these murderers or could have instructed the Police in British territory to do so would it have been desirable? Under what law would your Excellency propose to deal with them?

I am responsible for Military law & I can only say that I should decline to deal with them under that law.

If your Excellency feels justified in dealing with them by Civil British Law then I can only say that I misunderstand the situation & that the sooner a Civil administrator be sent & the responsibility be taken off my shoulders, the better.

(sgd) W. J. Gascoigne.

Maj-Gen.

800.

Camp Sheung Po.

14/8/99.

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306 reported above to give assistance & support: it would not do to ignore appeals for help: nor to take no notice of outrages when they have been reported: the result might be a large increase of them reflecting possibly later on on the safety of the troops. In my opinion therefore the method to adopt is to investigate: to show a power of force to these people but not to press too closely home the conviction of offenders in these private quarrels, otherwise I think that grave dangers & difficulties will be involved. Supposing for example I could have laid my hand on these murderers or could have instructed the Police in British territory to do so would it have been desirable? Under what law would your Excellency propose to deal with them? I am responsible for Military law & I can only say that I should decline to deal with them under that law. If your Excellency feels justified in dealing with them by Civil British Law then I can only say that I misunderstand the situation & that the sooner a Civil administrator be sent & the responsibility be taken off my shoulders, the better. (sgd) W. J. Gascoigne. Maj-Gen. 800. Camp Sheung Po. 14/8/99. 21

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306 reported above to give assistance & support: it would not do to ignore appeals for help: nor to take no notice of outrages when they have been reported: the result might be a large increase of them reflec- ting possibly later on on the safety of the troops. In my opinion therefore the method to adopt is to investigate: to show a power of force to these people but not to press too closely home the convic- tion of offenders in these private quarrels, otherwis I think that grave dangers & difficulties will be involved. Supposing for example I could have laid my hand on these murderers or could have instructed the Botas in Police in British territory to do so would i have been desirable? Under what would your Excel- lency propose to deal with them ? I am responsible for Military law & I can only say that I should decline to deal with them under that law. If your Excellency feels justified in dea- ling with them by Civil British Law then I can only say that I misunderstand the situation & that the sooner a Civil administrator be sent & the responsibility be taken off my shoulders, the better. (sgà) W. J. Gascoigne. Maj-Gen. ఉ 800. Camp Sheung Po. 14/8/99. 21

2026-05-31 06:55:12 · Baseline

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306

reported above to give assistance & support: it would

not do to ignore appeals for help: nor to take no

notice of outrages when they have been reported:

the result might be a large increase of them reflec-

ting possibly later on on the safety of the troops.

In my opinion therefore the method to adopt

is to investigate: to show a power of force to these

people but not to press too closely home the convic-

tion of offenders in these private quarrels, otherwis

I think that grave dangers & difficulties will be

involved.

Supposing for example I could have laid my

hand on these murderers or could have instructed the

Botas in Police in British territory to do so would i

have been desirable? Under what would your Excel-

lency propose to deal with them ?

I am responsible for Military law & I can

only say that I should decline to deal with them

under that law.

If your Excellency feels justified in dea-

ling with them by Civil British Law then I can

only say that I misunderstand the situation & that the

sooner a Civil administrator be sent & the

responsibility be taken off my shoulders, the better.

(sgà) W. J. Gascoigne.

Maj-Gen.

ఉ

800.

Camp Sheung Po.

14/8/99.

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