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Q. -I believe the article you chiefly referred to was this: "Mr. PRICE is reported to be a determined opponent of the corruption which is said to prevail so largely.”
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A.—Inasmuch as that was the origin of the whole thing, yes; but I meant the whole of the statements he (Mr. FRASER-SMITH) had been making in his paper for months past.
Q-Precisely. You say these are serious things to say about the department, and in the public interest you think there should be an inquiry?
A.--Yes.
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Q. What sort of an inquiry did you contemplate? In what direction should it be
made?
A.—Well, that if a Commission was appointed to inquire into it any of the public who had the public interest at heart would come forward and give whatever information they had.
Q.-Well, you are one of the public. Here you are, with information in your possession. We ask you confidentially to give it. Suppose every one answers in the
where are we?
same way,
A.—But you ask me to give names of individuals I have heard making remarks, I think that is hardly.-
A.-But all libels and slanders are originated by individuals. As man does not go and stand on a monument to give vent to a slander. He circulates it quietly, and that is how it gets currency.
A.-But after this inquiry people cannot make the same assertions again, because they have the opportunity of coming forward to prove them.
Q.-But we want to know who they are, so that we can challenge them.
J.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-People will say they don't like to come forward, just as you do, and you are of the department which is called in question.
A.-But I am not one who says these things.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-But are you not a witness to the fact that jobbery is said to
exist?
A. Yes, that it is said to exist.
Q. And that is perfectly true?
A. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, it is said to exist, and we want to trace it.
Hon. A. LISTER.-You cannot suppose there is in the length and breadth of Hongkong any one who is in a position to say "I saw so and so receiving bribes" unless it is perhaps some house boy or coolie or other native who has taken a cover,