AND CAPITAL
*
According to the official returns sixteen ona, were tried on charges of murder in the Supreme Court of Hongkong during the five years 1891-95 of whom six were convicted and ten acquitted. The returns for 1896 have not yet been published.✨✨ In of the above figures and the notorious reluctance of Hongkong special jurors to a verdict that carries with it the death penalty the question presents itself whether, as regards this colony,
this colony, it would ot be advisable to abolish that penalty, in which case may be supposed that the jurors would be undeterred by sentimental objections from returning a verdict in ac- cordance with the evidence. It is certainly not to the advantage of the colony that so many murderers should be let loose upon it every year; and in the majority of cases it is not for want evidence that they are not con- victed, except in so far as Chinese evidence is as a rule of a less reliable character than European evidence. In the case of all minor crimes, however, Chinese evidence is accepted and acted upon, and to say that it shall not be acted upon in capital crimes is equivalent to granting immunity to the crime of murder. This colony of course would not be allowed to act upon its own motion in interfering with the law as to the death penalty; we must be guided in such matters by the policy of the mother country, and there is little prospect, and, we may add, little desirability, of an alteration of the law as to capital punishment in England; but as regards this colony it would seem that owing to the peculiar views entertained by special jurors the retention of the death penalty is calculated rather to encourage than to repress the crime of murder, as the chances are always at least two to one that the murderer, if brought to trial, will secure an acquittal. The verdict returned in the caso decided on Wednesday last was an insult to the intelligence of the community and has excited amongst the Chinese great contempt for British justice. The accused man said himself, in the presence of European wit nesses, , that he had killed the woman, put the body in the box, and corded it up, bus the jury nevertheless let him off. And yet they are men who in all ordinary affairt would be classed as exceptionally intelligent. THE QUARANTINE REGULATIONS.
{
The new quarantine regulations issued by the Local Government Board, a precis of which we published in Saturday's issue, stablish medical inspection in lieu of quarantine, which has now become, so far.
|
the United Kingdom is concerned, a thing of the past. The Secretary of State, forwarding the regulations, draws atten-
to the divergence of the regulations | force in the colonies from those deemed ry at home. It is to be hoped that AMBERLAIN will use his influence secure uniformity in this
MA
*
the Empire so far as permit and it is only there need be erning col
do what they in the Crown
Flome
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT
prejudice The
ssary
Singapore kong during the
altogether absolute ne andertaken
From Hong ague years will be fresh in the recollection of our readers.
THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE.
ILLUMINATIONS AND FIREWORKS.
on
A meeting of the Committee a appointed by His Excelleney the Governor to make arrange ments for celebrating the completion of the sixtieth year of the Queen's reign was held Tuesday (23rd March) in the Council Chamber- Hon. C. P. Chater was voted to the chair, Mr. T. Jackson was appointed hon, treasurer, and Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, hon, secretary The sense of the meeting was then taken as to whether, in addition to ordinary celebrations, such as illuminations and fireworks, the completion of the sixtieth year of Queen's
the
reign should be celebrated by some permanent memorial. The Committee was unanimously in favour of a permanent memorial and it was decided that the hon. secretary should issue a notice inviting any tion to offer to forward it to the hon. secre- member of the community who had any sugges- táry, so that the Committee might consider any suggestions made. It was decided to issue the notice at once and to give the community a week in which to send in any suggestions. Mr. J.J. Francis, Q.C., Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. A. Coxon were appointed a sub-Committee to draft Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Hon. T. H. Whitehead, an address to the Queen, and Hon. C. P. Chater, Hon. F. H. May, and Mr. R. M. Gray were appointed a sub-Committee to draft a pro- gramme of general arrangements for the cele- bration locally, such as the illuminations, fire works, &c.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE DIAMOND JUBILEE COMMITTEE.
that Sir John Carrington, Chief Justice, has Surprise has been expressed in some quarters not been placed on the Diamond Jubilee Com- mittee. The explanation is simple and, we think, sufficient. As on the occasion of the celebration of the completion of the fiftieth year of Her Majesty's reign, so on the present occasion, it was felt that the arrangements should be placed in the hands of a committee composed of unofficials representative of the whole community instead of one largely com- posed of the paid servants of Her Majesty. Exceptions, however, had to be made in favour of those officials whose active co-operation was essential, the Surveyor-General being added to the committes in 1887 in order to secure his advice and assistance in connection with the decorations without having to solicit it through possible friction, and the Registrar-General in order to secure his assistance and influence in communicating with the Chinese community. The holders of the same offices have been again appointed, and, in view of the experience gained on the last occasion, it has been deemed advisable to add the Captain Superintendent of Police, but with these exceptions the com- mittee is entirely unofficial in its composition.
regular official channels, with their delay and
HONGKONG'S REPRESENTATIVES AT THE MILITARY DISPLAY:
ROAD ROUND THE ISLAND SUGGESTED. The following.
Mr. Geraho
Hon JH Stewa
SIE, In reply to your for- suggestions in reg memorial for the Diam the Queen, wo the n bring to your cons Government, th
at or about Ben-lev
the advantages ac sort are such
which could be
ед
per
if necessary, but the section, we think, would be a to take on such an auspicious occasion present.
by
the
The road would be a permanent memorial of the event which we celebrate this. name which would be given to it, such as
THE VICTORIA JUBILEE ROAD
the
"DIAMOND JUBILEE ROA The road would be unique and, as far as we
lend-
know, there would be nothing similar the world, the configuration of the ing itself most effectively to the purpos instrument in the e
It would further be of value as a defensive revents of our Island ever
of an armoni
train or armoured motor cars is one being attacked, as the possib
would render the landing practically impossible.
ahostile
The road opens up possibilities of some to the present congested state of the of the Island by rendering it possible to settle at Tytam or Cape d'Aguilar where, and at any rate it brings wit power of everyone to enjoy the ref breezes of the South-west monsoon, locomotion. be accessible to all by improved
Compelled as we are to live our live small island such as this, it is difficult too much in favour of the change, rec and beneficial exercise which a road of would place at the disposal of everyone
the
The bicycle, largely used by all classes of the community, both Foreign and Chinese, would bring the hitherto unexplored beauties of our island within reach of everybody It be a new and glorious addition to the walks of would the pedestrian. It would be a splendid road for riding, and being available for jinrickshas would
be a boon to those who are unable to enjoy ac2 tive bodily exercise themselves.
It would further unite our Queen'
with the work if the mileage round t
of as at present from the Clock Tow were counted from Her Majesty's st
able changes in the town may cause moval of the Tower to some other and more prominent position, but the tatue probability remain on its present site na long- as the colony exists.
We sincerely hope that the opportunity ow offers itself for commencing the magnificent work will not be thro away
The letter drafted by Stewart rec
8 road TO
Ride
In connection with the Diamond ubilee island, as th arrangements are being made, we believe, for Queen a Diamond the sending to London of a number of lukongs ture at Mess and Indian constables to represent the Hong--| letter as alread kong Asiatic police force, and it is also probable the extent of that some of the European members of the entire island force at present on leave will be asked to pro- coed, to London for the celebrations. Detach ments of the Hongkong Regiment and the Chinese submarine n hers will also be sent It has also been that members and Corp At pres celebrations, and
we are in
rs of the should att hat a detachment
thr
blished
thi
lonies like
bould
allowed
founded only on ignoranc
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