CO129-319 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [10-11] — Page 181

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COPY.

10.

King Edward Hotel,

Hongkong October 17th.,

5.30 B.M.

178

1908.

E

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt

of your letter of the 17th. instant (unnurbered) received at

4 B.M., this day at the above address.

2.

In reply to your letter wherein you say

"the Commission will be re-opened" and enquiring "which of the

witnesses if any 1 desire should be summoned before it to be

questioned in the manner indicated", I beg to inform you that the Commission as it stands gives the Government no power what- ever to make me a defendant which the report of the Commissione purports to have unlawfully done. I never was a defendant and by the course it is now proposed to take, it is evidently admit-

it ted that a wrong has been done, and to remedy that defect, is wished to convert me into a defendant: baving convicted me behind my back and being so unlawfully convicted one I am now called upon for my defence. A greater force in connection with the law could scarcely be imagined. "You cannot play fast and loose with the law" is a well-known principle, and 1 abide by that, and the objection I have raised in regard especially to the Commissioners is one I cannot get over. I decline most respectfully to submit to the Commission which has ignored me all along and followed its own course: soreover being a con- victed person, it seems to be ignored I can consent to no-

thing.

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3.

The Commissioners have taken the

The bonourable

course they have adopted under the Commission granted by his

Excellency

The Colonial Secretary.