CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7] — Page 212

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H. B. M. Consulate, Canton

14th. November, 1900.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the

receipt of your despatch No. 2081. of the 13th. instant.

In reply I beg to state that I have no

doubt that in the case of Liao Wu, in the event of his

being handed over in accordance with the Extradition

Ordinances, that the Chinese Authorities will undertake that

torture shall not be used in his examination.

I do not however, think, that His Excel-

lency the Viceroy would consent that an official, I presume

the Vice-Consul or Assistant attached to his Consulate is

meant, should attend at the trial of the accused to see

that torture is not used.

I should hesitate to lay such a proposition:

before His Excellency. It would in the first place shew

that His Excellency's undertaking is considered worthless,

which I do not think I should be justified in doing. In

the second place, under correction, it is a new departure

which nothing so far as I am informed, in the case of Lizo Tu, specially warrants. Thirdly if it is intended to use

torture and not to abide by the undertaking given the

presence of an officer of this Consulate ar of any one else

would be futile. No torture would be used in his presence

but the secrets of a chinese prison are not so difficult to keep that torture,if it were thought necessary, would

be applied all the same.

Our security that torture will not be employed in the case of extradition prisoners, must be the anxiety

of the authorities to secure such criminals, and their fear that extradition may be refused. It is possibly

expedient

The Honourable,

J. H. Stewart-Lockhart G.M.G.

Colonial Secretary, HongKong.