Sessional_Paper_1889 — Page 160

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Enclosure 1.

C.S.O. 83 of 1889.

Enclosures 2 and 3. C.S.O. 83/89.

2. On the 10th instant a warrant was issued from the Supreme Court of Hongkong for the arrest of one R. C. PASSMORE, a debtor, I believe, to a consider- able amount in this Colony, who had taken passage in, and was actually on board of the Messageries Maritimes Steam-ship Calédonien, then on the point of leaving the port. The Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court despatched a bailiff to the French Consul, with the Warrant, and a request in writing to facilitate its execu- tion, and accordingly the Consul endorsed the Warrant in the following terms:— "Le porteur est autorisé à arrêter M. R. C. PASSMORE à bord du Paque-

"bôt poste Français Calédonien,'

"

to which he subscribed his signature and affixed his official seal.

3. The bailiff thereupon proceeded to the French Mail Steamer, where he pre- sented himself to the Captain and producing the Warrant explained the cause of his presence on board. The Captain appears to have refused at first to permit the arrest; and when his attention was drawn to the Consul's endorsement upon the Warrant, he declared that it did not satisfy him, and required a written order authorizing him to allow Mr. PASSMORE'S removal. Finally, however, having communicated by letter with his Consul, who happened to be at the time on board a French man-of-war, he consented to the arrest being effected, and PassMORE, accordingly, accompanied the bailiff on shore.

4. It turned out subsequently that the absconding debtor had sufficient funds with him for the payment of all his creditors, and the affair caused special indig- nation on account of a belief that he would have succeeded in escaping, and in thus defrauding his creditors, but for the accidental presence in the harbour of a French Ship of War.

5. Though this belief has proved to be incorrect, the incident nevertheless serves to illustrate the extent to which the enforcement of law in our own waters is practically within the discretion of foreign shipmasters, and the anomaly of con- ceding the privilege of ships of war to vessels carrying passengers for hire.

6. I enclose copies of a letter from the Acting Registrar, reporting the occur- rence, and of its enclosures, together with certain minutes relating to this case.

I have, &c.,

The Right Honourable

(Signed,)

The Lord KNUTSFORD, G.C.M.G.

1

G. WILLIAM DES VŒUX.

HONGKONG

(4.)

Secretary of State to Governor of Hongkong.

DOWNING STREET,

No. 57.

SIR,

No. 308, of 5th Nov., 88,

12th March, 1889.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 280, of the 8th of October last, transmitting a Petition to the Queen from the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce, relative to the privileges enjoyed by Foreign Mail Steamers in British ports.

I request you to inform the petitioners that their petition was laid before Her Majesty, and that the question of these privileges is engaging the attention of Her Majesty's Government, and that a further communication will shortly be made to you on the subject.

તુ

I have at the same time to inform you that your despatches, noted in the No. 29, of 21st June, 89. margin, on the same subject, have been duly received and communicated to the

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

Governor

SIR G. WILLIAM DES VEUX, K.C.M.G.,

& Cas

&c.

&.

I have, &c.,

(Signed,)

KNUTSFORD.