r
G.O
27174
HONGKONG.
REC
[RER 4 JUN 18
No. $
520
1917
4
REPORT ON THE SEARCHING OF PASSENGERS ON ARRIVAL AT AND DEPARTURE FROM HONGKONG.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, 25th May, 1917.
At the meeting of the Legislative Council, held on the 31st October, 1916, certain members spoke on the subject of the searching of passengers, as follows:-
Hon. Mr. H. E, POLLOCK, &.c.—In connection with the searching of passengers at the wharves for arms and opium we desire to state that serious complaints have reached some of us, and we trust that means may be found to remedy such abuses, which are a hindrance to the river-traffic of this Colony.
Hon. Mr. Lau CHC-PAK. -Sir, speaking emphasize the remarks relative to the searching of Chinese passengers learing or arriving in this Colony, on behalf of my senior Chinese colleague and myself, I beg to Froin the nature of the complaints brought to the notice of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, through the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and from similar representations muls to ourselves, it is evident that the present system of searching by the native excisemen and police is capable of me improvement. In our opinion there should always be present some responsible officer to whom the Chinese, when searched, could report in case of irregularities or to whom they could turn for guidaure when a dispute arises. Many allegations of a serious nature have been circulated for some time amongst the Chinese and daly communicated to the Secretary for Chinese Affaits, who will no doubt bring them before the Govern- ment in due course. I need not, therefore, go into details. On belaif of the Chinese community my senior Chinese colleague and myself respectfully request that the Government will give the matter curly attention, and adopt such measures as will place a stricter supervision over the work of the native excisa- men and police, and witigate the hardship and undue annoyance to which the Chinese passing through this Colony are undoubtedly subjected.
Hon. Mr. WEI Y ̃k, 0,4.6. -1 beg to support the statements which have just been made by my colleague.
By direction of Ilis Excellency the Governor the matter was investigated by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Captain Superintendent of Police, and the Superin- tendent of Imports and Exports, who have made the following report :-
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
The existence to any great extent of abuses connected with the searching of passengers is not open to precise proof. The Captain Superintendent of Police points out that, in view of the small number of complaints made to his department either directly or through the Europeau detectives in this duty, the trouble is perhaps exaggerated.
It is agreed however that it is not possible to dismiss the complaints received as without foundation, If the theory is correct that in many cases individuals pay to save themselves time aud trouble, it is not unnatural that they should be shy of reporting to the Police or that a general complaint based on such circumstances should be put forward indirectly--for instance through the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, as in these papers.
It is clear that there is plenty of opening for abuse. The lack of sufficient European supervision of the searchers, the want of proper searching sheds (searching of baggage has often to be done in the open and on wet ground), the readiness of passengers to pay rather than undergo the discomforts of search and delay, even if carrying nothing contraband, the methods of the Shipping Companies or their compradore stuffs in passing as passengers' luggage what should rank as cargo, and (though this point perhaps exceeds the terms of reference which are concerned with passengers' baggage only) in allowing a margin over amounts appearing on manifests a practice which the closer regulation of the last fo w years has shewn to be very prevalent and to occasion no objection from the Customs; are all rantters which again make it not improbable that the complaint has foundation.