17. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the cases heard by His 2047 Majesty s Supreme Court at Shanghai; and whether trials in that Court are confined to disputes and cases arising within the International Concession at Shanghai, or if the Court deals with all cases where British nationals sue Chinese nationals irrespective of the part of China in which the British national is residing?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Supreme Court for China, which usually sits at Shanghai, but may sit anywhere in China, exercises full civil and criminal jurisdiction in respect of British subjects throughout the whole of the dominions of the Republic of China, with the exception of the Kashgar Consular District. For detailed information on the subject I would refer the hon. Member to Part 11 of the China Order in Council, 1925. No cases in which a British subject sues a Chinese citizen are heard in British Courts in China, except where the Chinese citizen, with the consent of his national authorities, submits to the jurisdiction of the Court in a particular case.
Mr. BECKETTAm I right in understanding from that reply that all the Chinese nationals who sue British nationals must appear before this Court in whatever part of China they are?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think that is so, but perhaps the hon. Member will put a question down.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIf my answer is not sufficiently explicit to the hon. Member, will he kindly put down a further question which will lead to the explanation he requires?
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINAre not the nationals of any country extraordinarily fortunate if they can sue British nationals in any British Court in any part of the world?