Translating Sin-chew:the Foundation of Common Law in the Straits Settlements
Since the establishment of the Straits Settlements,the British colonial government has entrusted Chi-nese community leaders to control the Chinese community.As a leader of Chinese society,Choa Chong Long made his will requiring for the permanent performance of the"Sin-chew"ceremony according to the British trust mechanism,while Chinese also connected"Sin-chew"directly to the symbol of Chinese secret societies for a long time.In 1857,Recorder Richard McCausland made a judgment that the colonial law should not interfere with this religious ceremony.However,a series of conflicts happened in the British Empire since 1857 deepened the idea of"Civilization Mission"to strengthen rule of law in colony.The development of the Straits Settlements and the formation of global industrial value chains also made the colonial government consider it necessary to in-tensify the control of Chinese secret societies.Chief Justice Benson Maxwell re-examined Choa's testament in 1869.Based upon the rule of common law,his judgment applied the Mortmain Statutes to"Sin-chew"ceremony,which unveils a solid connection between the common law precedent system and the web of global capital.
straits settlementscommon lawSin-chewmortmain statutescase law
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