18
19
would result in the inordinate protraction of the enquiry. fully justified
That he was in this view is shown by the experience of the Po-Leung Kuk Committee which, though it consisted of only four members besides the Chairman, took over a year, with the assistance of a shorthand writer, to record some 170 pages of evidence and furnish its report, giving a result of about 42 lines or about half a page a day.
The desire for the appointment of Commissions in Hongkong is equalled by the difficulty of inducing the members of the Commissions, when appointed, to sit.
167 The Retrenchment Committee having then been reduced to four members, exclusive of the Chairman, viz. the Harbour Master, Mr Chater, yourself, and Mr May, you