[v]
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 3rd May, 1892.
Your letter of 29th ultimo suggesting that the appointment of the Registrar- General as Chairman of the Committee appointed to enquire into, and report on, certain questions connected with the Bill before the Council for the incorporation of the Pó Léung Kuk be cancelled, and another Chairman appointed in his stead, has been laid by me before the Governor.
2. His Excellency has read your letter with some surprise, and he directs me to acquaint you in reply that he is unable to adopt your suggestion.
3. The Registrar-General is of all persons in the Colony the one who is the most interested in securing a free, full, and impartial enquiry into the allegations that have been made against the Pó Léung Kuk. He is also the one who from his official experience is the most capable of assisting and directing such an enquiry; and for these and other reasons he is obviously marked out as the most suitable person for appointment as Chairman of the enquiry.
4. The Governor is unwilling to believe that the proceedings of a Committee consisting of the gentlemen who have been appointed to serve on it, and presided over by the Registrar-General, will fail to command the confidence of the local public; but even if this should unfortunately prove to be the case, His Excellency would still feel it to be his duty to take other considerations also into account, and in view of these considerations would not see fit to alter the constitution of the Committee which has been appointed after due deliberation.
5. As regards the suggestion thrown out in the fifth paragraph of your letter, His Excellency desires to say nothing beyond expressing his regret that you should have allowed yourself to give currency to it, and adding that he is sure that on further reflection you will yourself share his regret.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable G. T. M. O'BRIEN, C.M.G.,
SIR,
Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG, 7th May, 1892.
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 772 of the 3rd instant, in which you inform me that His Excellency has read, with some surprise, my letter of the 29th April last, suggesting the removal of the Registrar-General from the post of Chairman of the Committee appointed to consider and report on the Bill for the incorporation of the Pó Léung Kuk, and that His Excellency is unable to adopt that suggestion for the reasons stated in your letter. These reasons are that the Registrar- General is the person most interested in securing a full, fair, and impartial enquiry into the charges against the Pó Léung Kuk, and at the same time the person whose official experience renders him the most capable of assisting and directing such an enquiry. You also hint at the existence of other reasons which would prevent His Excellency from altering the constitution of the Committee, even if he were satisfied that as at present constituted it would fail to command the confidence of the public.