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Q. Do you know anything about the limewashing of that property?
A. No, I do not.
The Chairman-Now, Mr. Ho, you spoke just now about the Inspectors being bribed. Whoever told you that the Inspectors were bribed, did your contractors tell you this?
A.-There was no need of saying anything about it. We ought to know it ourselves, because I gave the houses to someone to be whitewashed for $1 a floor, and now I give $2.50.
Q.-That does not necessarily follow that you are justified in saying that the Inspectors used to be bribed. Have you anything more definite than that ? Did the con- tractors tell you that they have to pay bribes, or have had to pay bribes at one time?
A.-It is very difficult to find proof for these people. If these people give money to the Inspectors, they dont dare to say it themselves, because they themselves will get into
trouble.
Mr. Fung Wa Chun. Then how do you come to the conclusion that the contractors must have bribed the Inspectors?
A.-Well, you ought to know it yourself. Because the contractors said "we will guarantee you to whitewash the floors for $1, and the Inspector will issue his permit before we come to you for the money."
The Chairman.-Well now, they used to tell you that, and do I understand that since the Commission has been sitting, or during the last seven months, or do they now tell you something quite different, now that they ask you for double the money?
A. They dont say so now.
Q.-You mean to say that if you give $2 to $2.25 to a man to limewash your floor, he wont come and say that he will guarantee the floor is passed, before you pay
the money
Mr. Fung Wa Chun.- You mean to say that before the contractors came to you and said “
Alright, I will whitewash these floors for $1, and I guarantee to get them passed by the Inspector"?
A. Yes.
Q.--And now the contractor says he wants $2 to $2.50 to be safe?
A. Yes.
Q.-To guard against any loss?
A. Yes.
Q. If the Inspector calls upon him to whitewash again, he can afford it?
A. Yes.
Mr. Shelton Hooper. Now in what street is so:ne of the property you allude to?
A. Stanley Street; Shelley Street; Staunton Street; Queen's Road.
Q.-Now, can you tell me who the Inspector who passes the limewashing is?
A.--I don't know this.