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the most ignorant of the populations around Hongkong and it is not unnatural that they should have held aloof and refused to travel into Hongkong at their own expense. There is no allegation that the inhabitants have, when asked for information which the Government had a right to have, refused to give that information. It would appear they have only refused to come into Hongkong to have the situation explained to them, and that I submit may be due to the expense entailed in travelling to Hongkong. I would therefore ask your special attention to the particular evil the Ordinance is intended to correct, and to the character of the remedy to be applied to it.
10.- The main object of the Ordinance is to enforce on the Chinese in the Colony's New Territories the registration of their lands and the disclosure of their title deeds. It is no doubt intended to operate in conjunction with the survey of the New Territories now being made, and with the special "Land Court" now in course of constitution for the settlement of all claims in connection with land in the New Territories. A Bill entitled "The New Territories' Land Court Ordinance" was read a second time on 30th November 1899.
11.- This Ordinance places in the hands of the Government an inquisitorial power far exceeding that possessed by any tribunal or by any judge. It infringes in every possible direction on the recognised rights and liberties of the subject. It exposes a man to the most serious consequences civil and criminal. It enables an interrogatory to be pushed into matters hitherto beyond the reach of all investigation by the law, it may compel a man to criminate himself or to disclose his Title. The power is without any limitation, and there is no limitation whatever as to the subject matter of the enquiry. It is not confined to matters of general interest or of public policy with reference to which ordinarily a Government seeks to obtain information by means of a Commission. If this were the sole purpose there is an Ordinance in force No. 2 of 1889 which gives a Commission power to take evidence on oath and to punish falsehood. It is not confined to civil matters exclusively. It may therefore be used at the instigation of the Captain Superintendent of Police to enable him to conduct