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The CHAIRMAN.-Yes, I think it would. It seems to be the opinion of Mr. CHATER and Dr. Ho KAI that it is unnecessary to have that report or to apply for it again.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-We did apply for it, and the Government refused. We have had Inspector STANTON before us.
Honourable Ho KAI-You may recollect, Sir, that I particularly put the question to Mr. STANTON, whether he did know one single case of any kind of his own knowledge, and he said emphatically "No." Everything that he told us he only got at second hand from some one else, and he further stated that he merely mentioned the cases not because he could prove them, but that, if we liked, we might get the parties who gave the information to come before us and give us their direct testimony.
The CHAIRMAN.-That is so. I just pointed that out.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.—I still think that there may be information in the report which ought to be at our disposal and we might have been committed to retain its contents confidentially. It might have been of some service to us in arriving at a fuller and more correct decision in regard to matters.
The CHAIRMAN.—I have handed you the letter from the Government, Mr. CHATER? Honourable C. P. CHATER.-Yes, as I was saying, I see here that the letter says "Under these circumstances His Excellency is of opinion that written answers of the Directors may be accepted by your Committee." I was not quite sure of the particular words used, but I knew the purport of the letter pretty well. I must say that I am not of opinion that the Committee of the Pó Léung Kuk, having been requested twice by us to attend, and not having done so, should have asked the Governor to allow them to give their answers to any questions in writing. That is a course which, I think, is not at all a right thing to do towards this Committee.
The CHAIRMAN.-Excuse me, I do not think they did ask the Governor to do that.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-Yes, I think it is here. "I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to state that a petition has been received from the Directors of the Pó Leung Kuk, in which they state as their reasons for not appearing personally before the Committee after their Chairman had attended and been examined, that their various occupations will not admit of their personal attendance without extreme inconvenience."
The CHAIRMAN. They did not ask the Governor to direct this Committee to receive their answers in writing.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-Yes, I think so. They at the same time expressed "their willingness to answer in writing any questions which the Committee may desire to put to them."
The CHAIRMAN.-I think you put it in the sense that they asked the Governor to ask this Committee to allow them to answer by writing.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-It is equivalent to asking the Governor to do so. Honourable C. P. CHATER. However, if you like to put it differently, it is not much better. The point with me is that they say that their various occupations will not admit of their personal attendance without extreme inconvenience. I am sure, however inconvenient it may be for them, it is just as inconvenient for us to be here an afternoon every fortnight or so to enquire into the questions which really concern them. I have heard it said by some that it does not matter much whether the Government passes this Ordinance or not. We are giving our services here for nothing, and if the Government considers that we should do without the personal attendance here of the Directors of the Pó Léung Kuk, well,
1 then all right. They have undertaken, however, to protect the Society, and have directed this Committee to see if the business of the Society