CO129-573-8 Disposal of prisoners sentenced by Supreme Court of China 3-6-1938 - 25-8-1938 — Page 14

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involves a lengthy retention of such persons in the local prison but it also throws upon this Administration the burden of obtaining the consent of the Government of the place to

which transfer is made and thereafter of making the necessary

arrangements for warrants, passages and escorts.

5. My object in writing the present letter is to

ascertain whether in such cases it would not be possible for

His Majesty's Supreme Court in China to order that the

convicted prisoner should, subject to any necessary consent

being obtained, be ordered to serve his sentence in his place

of domicile, and for His Majesty's Consular Officers to secure

direct from the Government of such place of domicile the

necessary consent and to make all arrangements for transfer. It is presumed that in the case of Indians there would be

Indian policemen proceeding frequently on leave from Shangnai

or Tientsin to India who could act as escorts; but, when

necessary, prisoners could be accommodated temporarily in the

Hong Kong prison pending further removal to the place of

ultimate confinement. I observe that in a previous case, that

of ABDUL JABAR, dealt with in correspondence ending with the

letter of His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai

dated 2nd May, 1923, such a course was followed.

I have, etc.,

(Sd.) G. A. S. Northcote,

Governor.