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Q.-Have you ever known any of the detectives of the Pó Léung Kuk interfering with the Police in the execution of their duties?
A. No, not personally.
Q. You never heard of any member of the Pó Léung Kuk interfering with a constable on one of the wharves ?
A. Yes, there was a case of that kind about three years ago.
Q. He endeavoured to force his way into one of the wharves in opposition to the instruction of the constable ?
A.-Such was the case.
Q-Matters under the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance are now referred to the Registrar General and the Pó Léung Kuk ?
A. We in the Police communicate with the Registrar General but not with the Pó Léung Kuk.
Q-But the case first of all goes to the Pó Léung Kuk and the Registrar General ? A.-I am not aware of the Pó Léung Kuk in that respect. When the Police are aware of cases affecting women they always communicate with the Registrar General and act in co-operation, unless, of course, the case was first brought before the Magistrate by the Police.
Q.-With regard to the case of interference with a constable on duty by a member of the Pó Leung Kuk, can you tell us about the results or consequences?
A. Yes, I could relate the circumstances from memory; there are no docu- ments to refer to. A Chinese gentleman, who said he was a member of the Pó Léung Kuk, came to me and complained, and his complaint against the constable was that he had refused to recognise his authority as a member of the Pó Léung Kuk and that he had the right to order the Police about. I sent for the man concerned and asked what his statement was in the presence of this gentleman. The man was a European constable, and he said that he had received orders on one particular occasion to close the gate to the pier that belonged to the Steamboat Company. I forget the reason but no one was to be allowed to go in or out. The Chinese gentleman came up and produced his papers which purported that he was a member of the Pó Léung Kuk and he insisted on his right to be passed in.
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Q.-Was he passed in?
A.-The constable, who was a recruit, I am afraid, answered somewhat rudely for which I admonished him. He said that the gentleman might belong to any Society he liked. The gentleman insisted that the constable should be punished, which I declined to do. I referred him to the Magistrate,
Honourable Ho KAI.-What did he want to go in for?
A. He said that he wanted to go in as a member of the Society. There might be women on board the steamer that he wished to see. He did not tell me positively however. I of course denied that he had the right to order the constable.
The CHAIRMAN.-There was no attempt on the part of this gentleman to interfere unnecessarily with the Police ?
A.--No, he wanted to get past and the constable would not let him.
Q.-There was no attempt to hide it?
A.--On the contrary, he came to see me and went away very dissatisfied.
Q.--And the policeman knew that the Pó Léung Kuk had absolutely no power to give him orders ?
A.--Certainly, as a matter of fact the policeman was a recruit and he had not heard of the Pó Leung Kuk Society and therefore he would not let the man in.