CO129-477 - Public Offices - 1922 — Page 364

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law is, we understand, that the nationality of the country where the person is should be considered as the stronger

nationality.

On Friday last a Chinese when brought before the Court and charged with a criminal offence claimed that he was s Spanish protege, and he produced a certificate of

His claim was supported protection dated march 14th, 1922.

by a letter from the spanish Consul to the Registrar

The Court, demanding that the accused be released.

nevertheless, replying on the Chinese law, held that the accused was a Chinese citizen, and that he was subject to the jurisdiction of this Court, and refused to release him.

In order to show the extent to which the abuse has grown I would point out that on that same day three letters were received from the Spanish Consul claiming that three Chinese against whom proceedings had been commenced in this Court were Spanish protege and therefore could not be tried

here.

I have the honour to bring these facts to your

notice in order that the Consular Body may not misunderstand the reasons for our action and I have the honour to request the Consular Bady to take such steps as may be possible to put a stop to this practice of registering Chinese in foreign consulates, which only leads to iriction and injustice.

I have, etc.,

!

(Signed) C. Kuan.