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Q-Assuming that other people are desirous that there should be better control, don't you think a system of registration worked by the Police would give more control?
A.-I have no doubt it would.
Q. And if such control is wanted, don't you think it is desirable that it should be obtained ?
A. As far as I am concerned, no; certainly not.
Q. What I mean is this: if there is a general feeling in the Colony that some such control ought to be had, don't you think it would be desirable that some means should be instituted to effect such control ?
A.-I think it would be a very dangerous experiment indeed. It has often been tried to keep labour under control and it has failed, as I know. It is an interference with liberty and, if you fail in your experiment, you are in a weaker position ever afterwards.
Mr. Wilcox. As far as my experience of the old Ordinance is concerned, there was no difficulty with the coolies, but registration was allowed to become voluntary instead of being made compulsory, and unless such an Ordinance is made compulsory, it cannot have any effect.
The Chairman. But admitting that everything that has taken place in the past has been more or less a failure, we think we can see our way by different means to prevent a repetition of such failure.
A. I think, if you succeed, that control will be desirable, but I also think that all experiments interfering with fundamental principles are dangerous.
Q.-You say it is dangerous because, in the event of failure, the position may be worse afterwards than before?
A.--I think so. There is a limited amount of these people and, if you weed them out, there will be an insufficient supply.
Q.-Don't you think that, if a certificate of registration were issued and kept by the master who could endorse a coolie's character ou it, this would give masters better control over their coolies?
A.—I don't wish masters to have any more control over their coolies than they have already got.
Q.--Your opinion is a personal one?
A. And I object to certain people that I know being able to endorse bad charac- ters on certificates of registration.
Q-Any person who endorses a false character on a certificate would be liable to a libel action by the coolie, wouldn't he?
A. I don't know that the coolie would know that.
The Chairman. I think the coolies in Hongkong know pretty well what their rights are in the Colony. I don't think there is a doubt that they would bring an action.
Witness.-I don't think the average employer is fit to endorse a coolie's certificate. A lot of people I know do not treat their coolies in a proper way, and if they hit their coolie over the head and he goes away, they would endorse his certificate.
The Chairman.-The coolie under such circumstances has always redress against such a man and is pretty quick to take the opportunity. In fact the feeling here is that no one must touch a coolie, for he knows his rights.
Witness. I should like to have an opportunity of sacking my coolie if necessary without giving him a month's warning, and he could leave me without giving me a