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Ordinance. If a Magistrate has a case brought before him of a violation of the liberty of the subject, let him deal with it, and inflict his punishment, but all the same I would not be harsh with the Chinese Committee detaining a woman or possibly a man for a day or two, when their intention is to bring that woman up to the Registrar General as soon as possible.
The CHAIRMAN-You think it is wise to encourage respectable members of the Chinese community to cooperate with the Government?
A.--Yes, and necessary, because in the future we may not always have an entente cordiale between the Chinese and the European Government. Happily the Chinese have not yet learnt what political agitation is, but they may learn it by and by when municipal government and that sort of thing come in. Then the relations between the Chinese and the English Government will not be as smooth as now.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-If this Ordinance had been passed, it would have given the Board of the Pó Leung Kuk power absolutely to deal with the disposal of the case of a woman brought before it. The case would have been decided by the majority of the Committee.
A.-I do not see that this Bill gives such power. Nothing is said about it.
The CHAIRMAN.-You say the entente cordiale at present existing between the Chinese and the European Government is strong. Do you think that discouraging the Chinese from cooperating with the Government would tend to destroy it?
A.--Yes, certainly. We see the Chinese mandarins have been trying, and always have been trying, to get hold of the leading members of the Chinese community, and to use them for their own purposes, when there are no differences between the Chinese and the European Government.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-You will see in, section 11, it says "All questions which may arise at any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be decided by the majority of votes; in case of an equality of votes the President shall have the casting vote."
The CHAIRMAN.-Dr. EITEL has referred to that.
A.—I read it carefully, but I did not see how that gives the Pó Léung Kuk any power to detain people.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-But to dispose of women or girls sent to the Home of the Society.
A.-By the Registrar General? I would throw the whole burden of the Home and of the management of the inmates of the Home, the whole burden of the management, upon the Chinese exclusively.
Q-And over the disposal of the girls?
A.-Entirely. I think it is not in harmony with the fitness of things that the Registrar General should find husbands for girls whom he knows are utterly unfit for marriage so called. I have not discussed the matter with the present Registrar General at all, never so far as I can remember, but I do not think he relishes having such duties put upon him.
1 And I know a good deal of the applications he receives, and the troubles he must have in connection with that affair. I remember very well when this Society was first organised, in 1878 or 1879. This question then arose. The Government said "We shall have numbers of girls thrown on our hands. What is the Government to do with the girls?" I said at the time "leave the girls to the Chinese; they will dispose of them." And I would trust this Committee of respectable Chinese merchants, Chinese gentlemen elected by the whole community, superintended by a Board of direction, and trusted by the Government, I would leave it to them without asking any questions.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.--A little while ago you said the Registrar General should have a veto?