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Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD. He said that he never used his official influence. Honourable Ho KAI.—The Registrar General admits that he asked every Chinaman to subscribe to the Pó Léung Kuk, or any other good object.
The CHAIRMAN.--Most decidedly.
Honourable Ho KAI-You use those words "official influence," Mr. WHITEHEAD, but Mr. LOCKHART has an individuality.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD. I do not refer to Mr. LOCKHART, but to the Registrar General.
Honourable HO KAI-Mr. LOCKHART asked certain friends to subscribe to a good object. It might have been the Famine Eund or anything else and a man might come out of the office and say "The Registrar General asked me to do so." That is not right. It so happened that Mr. LoCKHART happened to be the Registrar General when be asked them to subscribe to the Pó Léung Kuk. Suppose it is a cricket or football or recreation club or anything of that sort of which Mr. LOCKHART is President and he asked any one to subscribe to it might it be said that he used his official influence to induce people to subscribe to the clubs. That is nonsense.
The CHAIRMAN.-If this $30,000 has been subscribed because I advised subscrip- tions to it, all I can say is that it is one of the most successful bits of work I have ever done since I have been in the colony and I should be glad in any similar case to be again so successful. I am afraid, however, that I cannot lay the flattering unction to my soul of having been the only person who advised the subscription to be got up because as a matter of fact I know that for the last 10 years the Chinese have been advised to get up a subscription to the Pó Léung Kuk, and the advice took a long time to mature into actual figures. With regard to the Colonial Secretary's reply I may say that I have long been of opinion that there should be a subscription and I bave frequently expressed my opinion to many Chinese. I do not see why these gentlemen who have given this information should have been ashamed to give their panies. If I advised them to subscribe and they did subscribe I am glad to hear that they took the advice, but if I advised them to subscribe and they did not, well, nothing dreadful as far as I know has happened to them. I do not know whether any members require further information on the various points we have to consider.
Honourable Ho KAI.-I should think, Mr. WHITEHEAD, you are satisfied with that answer. I think the mistake was to put the Registrar General's title and to say that he did this and that in his official capacity. It perhaps suggested in the minds of some that he used improper influence, but I would point out that our Chairman is also Chairman of a Committee for getting up some exhibits for the Imperial Institute and if by persuad- ing people to contribute he is using "improper influence" I think he had better resign.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD. There is some difference.
Honourable Ho KAI.--I am going to propose that the Chairman be asked to proceed with the report at once as the report will be a pretty long one and I think the Chairman. should be requested to proceed with it immediately so that we can get it read the next meeting of council.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-I should think the Chairman could make out the report. Honourable Ho KAI.-You second my proposition?
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-Yes.
The Committee then passed to consider the various points referred to them in the letter from the Colonial Secretary, and agreed that the Chairman should draft the report, in accordance with their views and circulate it among the members for their consideration.
The CHAIRMAN asked whether members desired the discussion to be printed. Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD stated that he wished the discussion to be printed, and the other members did not dissent.
The Committee then adjourned sine die.