( 102 )
The CHAIRMAN.-You think that this being a matter purely concerned with the Chinese that the Chinese are the most capable of dealing with it?
A.-Yes.
Q.-Under proper control ?
A. They should be properly trusted and receive a proper amount of power, but all the same the Government should have a firm hold upon their doings in a way which the Registrar General could apply with some tact and discretion, in a manner which is not offensive to the Chinese.
Q.-You think that the quarter of a million of inhabitants here who are Chinese should have some voice in matters which peculiarly concern them?
A.—Yes; the experience of the Dutch Government in Java and Borneo compared - with the experience of the Singapore Government with the secret societies has convinced me that the Dutch principle has a very good foundation. The Dutch principle is to rule the Chinese through the Chinese, and I believe, apart from my general conviction, that this ought to be much more largely applied in Hongkong. In kidnapping at any rate more than in any other case this principle ought to be applied. Give the Chinese a considerable amount of confidence and a considerable amount of power, with the distinct and practical supervision of the Registrar General, who is altogether the link between the Chinese community and the European Government. I think that would work best.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.—In your memorandum, paragraph 5, you state that the character of the Chinese element of the Hongkong Police Force is low. Will you give us your reasons for arriving at that conclusion?
A.-Their salaries are low. If you want good men, most particularly among the Chinese, you must pay them a better salary than they have.
Q.-If the character of the Chinese in the Police Force is low can you tell us how it compares with the character of the Chinese detectives of the Pó Léung Kuk?
A.-I know nothing of the detectives of the Pó Léung Kuk, but the Pó Léung Kuk's detectives are under a Committee who know their tricks very much better than the superior officers of the Chinese Police do. There is another reason why I say the Chinese Police is low, and that is that, not only is the salary small, but the service is not respected by the public opinion and the public conscience of the Chinese. A Chinaman, who has not only an amount of self respect, but who also cares what other people think about him, will not join the Hongkong Police. He has no inducement to do so, every inducement not to do so.
Honourable C. P. CHATER. You said that the salary was very low; do you know what the wages are?
A.-No I do not know the wages of the detectives, but I believe most of the detectives in the Police Force are really informers, and you have no real detectives in the Police Force except Inspector QUINCEY and the European officers and detectives. Those employed are really informers who are as bad as bad can be.
Q.-You say badly paid?
A.-I do not know whether the Chinese Police Force includes the detectives. I should say the detective is a separate and independent branch.
Q.--Do you know the wages in the Police Force?
A. From $12 to $16.
Q.-Do you know the wages of the detectives of the Police Force?
A.-No, but they can make a great deal of money..
Q.--Who?
A. The detectives in the police service.