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the Public Health and Buildings Bill to consult with the
Chinese and to draft out and settle the Petition to His
Excellency the Officer Administering the Government
against the introduction to the Council of a measure
affecting the welfare and interests of the Chinese.
(7) With regard to the Public Health and Buildings
Bill now before the Council, I have accepted no fees or
pecuniary reward nor was I promised any such fees or
pecuniary reward, for forwarding, promoting, advocating
or opposing such Bill. I have neither accepted any fees
or pecuniary reward nor have I received any promise of
such, from any person or persons whomsoever, for advocat-
-ing and representing the views of the Chinese in the
Council on the said Bill.
It is my humble opinion that the rule was evidently
made for the purpose of preventing bribery, corruption
and indirect influence, and therefore the amount of the
fee and the magnitude of the professional services actual-
-ly rendered together with the surrounding circumstances
must be carefully taken into consideration before one can
arrive at the conclusion that the acceptance of an
honorarium as in my instance be taken to be within the
scope of the resolution and the spirit of the rule as
above quoted.
Further, allow me to point out that however
advantageously such a rule may be applied to Members of Parliament in England it can hardly be indiscriminately
applied to a Colony like Hongkong. Here, in Hongkong, by far the great majority of the inhabitants are Chinese,
with who are mostly unacquainted of the English language, much
Those few of the Chinese who less with the English Law. know English well, are unable to clearly understand and fully grasp the principles of the English Law and the
There are fewer language in which it is usually couched. still who can draw up a Petition or communication to the
(8)