(6)
Society. I am speaking against the practice of people stating in public that they were informed by certain persons, or persons of undoubted authority, that such and such a thing happened and such and such a thing was done by individuals or bodies of individuals, and yet when you ask them to name the informers or whether they know it of their own knowledge, they come forward and simply say "Oh, I don't know this of my own knowledge, but I have been informed confidentially, and I refuse to give the name of the person." I think that is very unfair, and, as a member of this Committee and as a gentleman, I protest against this action on the part of (I suppose, in this case) the police authority.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Who was that?
Honourable Ho KAI.-I don't know.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Who made the statement ?
Honourable HO KAI.-I think the Governor himself stated it.
Honourable F. H. MAY.-I propose that the Committee reply to that that, as this is an anonymous charge, they would prefer to be relieved of the duty of investigating it. I don't know that we are supposed to enquire into such charges.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think the statement is referred to in the Governor's speech. *
The CHAIRMAN.--It is included in the list of charges contained in the letter of the Colonial Secretary to the Committee.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-It was mentioned in the speech I think.
The CHAIRMAN.-Yes.
Honourable Ho KAI-In the Governor's speech he mentioned the name of Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD in connection with charges 3 and 4. He did not give the name of the police authority referred to in charge 5. That I consider very unfair.
The CHAIRMAN.-Gentlemen, do you agree to Mr. MAY's motion.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-No, I don't think so. Here is a statement from the highest authority in the Colony. He has made a statement to the effect that he has received certain information with regard to the detectives of the Pó Léung Kuk being addicted to squeezing. Upon that he writes us an official letter, and asks us to investigate this charge also. I don't think it is for us to turn round and say that "having asked you as to who preferred the charge, and you having declined to give us the man's name, we will not investigate it." I don't think we are right in so doing.
The CHAIRMAN.--How do you propose to investigate it?
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-In the best way we can. We might summon the Captain Superintendent of Police and ask him.
Honourable Ho KAI (to Mr. CHATER).—As an Englishman and as a fair minded man of business and a man of the world can you possibly investigate a charge—although made by the highest authority in the Colony or in all England-if, when brought face to face with the person making the charge, he won't give the name of his informant or
witnesses ?
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-In every Colony, I believe, and in every Government there is such a thing as secret information given to those who govern, who can make use of it for the good of the Colony.
Honourable Ho KAI.-Yes, the information may not appear before the public, but it must be before the Judge, and we, sitting here as a Committee, are the judges of these charges, and no secret information can be kept away from the Judge in all Courts of law.
* See Appendix 20.