CO129-544-18 Custody of H.J. O. Hicks- criminal lunatic 26-6-1933 - 21-9-1933 — Page 11

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He has since resided at Tientsin where shortly before

the occurrence he underwent treatment for opium smoking

and alcoholic excess. Whilst stationed at Canton

before the war he married a Chinese woman by whom he

has four children. At Canton he also formed a con-

nection with the deceased by whom he has one child

surviving. The whole family are now, I understand,

proceeding to Hongkong to live under the care of the

accused's sister, a Mrs. Bevan, who resides in Kowloon.

4. There is, of course, no lunatic asylum of

any kind here and Hicks is at present confined in the

Amoy Road @aol. I have also ascertained that there

is no special criminal lunatic asylum at Hongkong.

Medical evidence at the trial was to the effect that,

were the cause of the delusion removed, the delusion

itself would pass and that Hick's mental state had

undergone considerable improvement since the prelimin-

ary examination in March. He is at present, however,

in a crippled condition owing to an attempt to commit

suicide whilst detained in the munisipal gael at

Tientsin which resulted in injury to the spine and

sompound fractures of both ankles.

Б.

In these circumstances I have the honour to

request your instructions under Section 2 (2) of the

Trial of Lunatics hot 1883 with reference to the

Colonial Prisoners' Removal Act 1884, which is applied

to China by Article 103 of the China Order in Council

1925 (with the substitution of His Majesty's Minister

for the Governor of a British possession), and the