1941-09-25 — Page 41

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 25, 1941.

120.

VOUCHERS, INITIALS AND DEBTS

(Continued from Page 1)

M. Kwong

Who is

M.

not understand when hundreds of then be returned for amendment It was like this: when the work them are not Initiated. What and re-writing by the sub-con- was done by me, at the end of the explanation have you of that?, tractor.

month, Kwong Wing will go with Was it because you were too busy? When they are returned do`youļa Government official,

I simply forgot,

put a note on them that the ori- So you admit you did not per-ginal one had been refused?--No. form the duties for which you I suggest to you that you gross-

the gentleman were paid? I admit that I for-ly neglected to do your work; that got to sign them. It was a mis- the Commission do not belléve for Kwong?-He is the younger bro-

one moment that you

went ther of Kwong Wing. through every one of the vouchers Why does he sign your account? with Mr. Buchanan, that you have-Because Kwong Ming audits the You are a Government repre- told us a series of lies and that by accounts of Kin Lee. sentative in Kin Lee and are sup-your neglect to do your duty Gov- posed to check the vouchers. Iernment have been Jed to forgot to initial them but I check- more than they should have: ed every voucher. You can see Witness did not answer. my handwriting.

take.

But you are paid to check the

vouchers?

-

Yes.

If you went to the trouble of checking why did you not go to the trouble to Initial them? The initials "F.T.C." take only one fraction of a second. I think I vas too busy.

www.

pay

But he does not seem to audit any other accounts or bills but those of Union Express Co., Kwong Wing, and yours and also Ah Din and Co.?-I do not know,

None else; here are China Light and other bills but this great, q ditor has not seen them!

Sole Proprietor The next witness was Li Man- shing.

Are you

I a contractor?--No, am a sub-contractor.

What were you busy doing? Because sub-contractors' bills-Li Man-shing. came in bundles. They were too many for me at n me,

Did Not Ask

Did you not report to Mr. Buchanan that you needed assis- tance? I did tell him but did not ask for assistancę.

Am I correct in saying that the system was that after your initiall- ing Mr. Buchanan would also put

No. on his initials?

Mr. Buchanan did not initial these vouchers? -- Yes. He ini-

this talled

voucher. pointed to a voucher.)

I am going to suggest to you that there is a very intimate con-

What is the name of your firm?nection between the three firms- not forgetting Mr. Ah Din. Am I right or wrong?-I do not know anything about Union Express and Kwong Wing, but Ah Din..

Are you a sub-contractor work on tunnels in Kowloon? Yes.

for

Who are the partners of your Arm? I am the sole proprietor.

When was the firm formed?-

It has been in existence for several tens of years.

Is my suggestion right or wrong? .-Wrong.

The Whole Story

I am also telling you that all

What was the capital?-Only a these firms use note paper with

very small capital.

How much? Since the firm my own. I do not know

much I put in.

the exception of Mr. Ah Din

whatever is I must tell you that how work was done by us was very

and neat

clean and can be

}}} must know how much checked any time. when you started. When I start- But how came you to use the

note

US paper

Kwong (Witnessed it was only $80 to $100 from same

Wing?

I must tell you the my savings,

Whatever work was whole story. done by me was measured up at the end of each month by Kwong with a Govern- Wing together ment official, with or without my presence, and he would get pay- ment from Government.

Am not right u saying that! the system was that you being the man representing Govern- ment, was supposed to check vouchers on the spot, put on your initials, send them to Mr. Buchan- an, who in turn would put on his initials, and then they are paid In the case of by Government? every voucher Mr. Buchanan also asked me explanations about them before he initialled them.

--

to

Mr.

So you take them Buchanan and go through each of{ them? - Yes.

If you had time to do that why did you not put your initials on each voucher when they came to your office at Hunghom? - I was wrong in not putting on my in- tials simply through forgetfulness.

“Be Careful”

The Chairman informed witness that the Commission Intended to call Mr. Buchanan and that wit- ness would have to be careful in his answers,

What is the capital now?--I do not know how much the business is worth now.

Do you keep any books?--Yes. Can you not find out?--I have several contracts

All the more reason why you should know your capital.--I must find out.

Have you a banking account?-- Yes, but formerly I had only a savings account,

did

But why did you use Kwong Wing's

We note paper? [not use Kwong Wing's note paper.

We used Kin Lee's.

So you and Kwong Wing and Kin sub-contractors use other

May I tell Lee's note paper? year

you the whole story, as otherwise of you will not understand.

When did you open the bank- ing account? This

about April or May.

Which Bank?-The Bank East Asia, Kowloon branch.

Man-shing

LI

name?—Yes.

is

Brothers

your

own

Have

you any brothers?-- Several younger than I. Name them:-Li Yee. How old?-I do not know. Older or younger?-Younger. What is your age?-50.

Yes, tell us the whole story. That's what we are trying to find out. The work is measured up and Kin Lee makes out a bill. They expect us to copy this on a to our own paper, but instead of doing so. I just put my chop on to the bill made out by them to save time..

So this is the happy position. You agree to all the accounts made out by Kin Lee? - We

Then what is your brother's check it eventually; I myself. Chairman: Are you

seriously age about?-He must be 45 or 46. Wing and a Government suggesting

Chuen-shing. official. that

The others?--Li explained you every one of the vouchers to Mr. He is younger than Li Yee.

Buchanan? - All the vouchers

were examined.

45.

I But then if that was so, why What is his age?--About 40 to was it necessary for Kin Lee to make out the bill? The work

And you did this in the Hong Who is next?-The third who is measured up every day. Kong office of the P.W.D.2 In is four or five years younger is most cases I went to Mr. Buchan-Li Yin. an's office in Messrs. Marsman's Has premieses.

Messi's. Marsman's premises? Where? The Hong Kong Bank premises.

Is Mr. Buchanan employed by Messrs. Marsman's or the P.W.D.? The P.W.D. but his office is in the Hong Kong Bank Building.

So you took Kin Lee's vouchers to Marsman's office in Hong Kong?

Yes.

A

"Another Blind?"

any one of them got share in the business?-None has

I am going to make a very You any interest in the business.

pertinent suggestion to you. Where are your brothers?-L may be a business man of many Yee is in Hong Kong but the years' standing, but in point of rest are in the country.

fact your Arm is another blind No interest in the firm?-None, for Kwong Wing

No sir since the family estate has been

and he uses you to over- divided.

No sir. charge Government, Did they ever have a share in Do you know George Tsang?- the business?-Never at any time Yes.

Page

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Does she live in a

since I started the business of LiHe cheeks the work of Kwons House of Cards?

"A lot of vouchers are in Chin- | Man-shing. ese. - Yes.

Does Mr. Buchanan read and write Chinese? He can't write but he can read some figures.

So you had to translate ali these vouchers? Yes.

That took some time, I think?

Yes,

"Can't Answer"

When you were doing this wonderful work who was In charge of the office at Hunghom?

George Tsang.

Did Li Yee work in the busi- ness?-No.

Where does he work?I do not know what business he is doing. When did you last sec him?- Only a few days ago..

Is Hong Kong?—Yes.

The Bailiffs

Do you know the Union press Co.?-No, Sir, I don't.

Have you never heard of Never.

Wing?

Yes. And Mr. Ah Din? -I don't know.

You only know about yourself. and Kwong Wing? Yes.

Yes,

Have you a motorcar? One No. 599 and the other. No, 60. How much did you pay for each? A little over $200 for 599 and about $700 for 60.

You ever allow George Tsang to Ex-use your car? Yes.

You allow any other Govern- it?-ment, offlalal to use it?-Not allow them to use it but I sometimes Suppose the other sub-contrac- Was your brother at your place give them lifts. tors bills came in what would when the bailiffs came?-He was happen to them? George Tsang not there, I was not there. would do it and keep

all the

Did you hear that your brother vouchers until I returned and was there then? I did not. hand them over to me.

Do you know. Kwong Ming?

According to what you said

No."

Foreman Chauffeur

You gave all Government fore- men lifts, did you?--No, there was accommodation for only two or

Or Kwong Wing of Kin Lee?-three.

you explained every voucher to Mr. Buchanan, You told us that Yes.

you failed to put your initials on You know No, 207, Jaffe Road the vouchers because you forgot.NOWN When you went through the Never been there?-No. Vouchers with Mr. Buchanan you must have seen that your initials were not on them. Why did you not put them on "then?

Witness hesitated. Chairman. What's the answer?

I can't answer.

Had you any occasion when checking off these vouchers to refuse to pass them because the amount was too much or because there was something wrong with them? "Yes, on several occa- sious:

No Note

What do you actually do as a sub-contractor on the tunnels? Build the side walls, arches and concrète line the walls.

Do you know the Kwong Wing Co.?-Yes

Well, put it this way. You used to give lits to the Government foreman who was supervising. your work?--Not always.,

Have you ever allowed your car to drive George Tsang to his house or the YMCA ?--I don't know.

Did your chauffeur ever tell you? My foreman is my chauf feur.

Do you know that the Kwong Did he ever tell you that he Wing Co, also does this work for used to drive George Tsang to his Marsman's? Yes, but the work is place of residence?No. N done by me

Are you surprised to hear it? Who paid you?-Kwong, Wing I believe that sometimes he and Comepag

did use my car when it was pass- payKwong ing his house.

"

Do Marsman's Wing? I think so.

By a strange coincidence your Does Kwong Wing send in the car would sometimes pass his bills?--I don't know.

house and he would use it? I Did Kwong Wing sub-let the know very little about my car contract of Maraman's to you? because I seldom use it.

||"Well," I am going to tell you why you know very little about (Continued, on Pado 15)

Can you point out one of these? You may stand down and do so. --On occasions, when I discover- Yes!

ed something wrong and refused Do you know that Kwong Wing to pass the youchers they would uses similar note paper to you?—

MANY

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