No. 736.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 28th April, 1892.
SIR,
I am directed to inform you that His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint you to be Chairman of a Special Committee consisting of the Honourable Acting Colonial Treasurer, the Honourable C. P. CHATER, Honourable Ho KAI, Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD and yourself for the purpose of investigating and reporting on certain points connected with the Bill for the incorporation of the Pó Leung Kuk presently before the Legislative Council.
The points on which His Excellency more particularly requires a report are as follows:
1. Whether it is advisable to give the Society a legal status.
2. A. Whether provision should be made for such status in a Bill similar to that under discussion or B. whether, as suggested by the Secretary of State 10 years ago, the Society should be formed under the Companies Act of 1865 and its rules and organisation formally approved by the Local Government.
3. Whether it is in any sense as suggested by the Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD
a "Secret Society."
4. Whether any of the subscriptions have been obtained by "pressure
"order
as asserted by the same Honourable Member.
J)
J
or
5. Whether some of the Runners are disreputable and squeeze as suggested
by a Member of the Police Force.
6. Whether a grant not exceeding $20,000 should be made by the Government or whether it would not be preferable to hand over the block of houses situated in New Street, including the first floor and the site, to the Society instead of making them a grant in money.
7. Whether the Proceedings, Books, Buildings, &c., of the Society should not at all times be made accessible to Justices of the Peace, Magistrates and others.
8. Whether the last clause of the Bill should not be omitted altogether.
9. Whether in any case a suspending clause should not be attached to the
Ordinance.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN,
Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL,
&c.,
- $c.,
&c.