CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6] — Page 291

for your Lordship's information

a copy of a report of that Committee

and 5, the annexures to their report

dated 21st May, 1886.

which I laid before the Executive Council as soon as received.

2. The Committee, including Free Chinese Gentlemen and Justices of the Peace, are unanimous in their opinion that the subject demands the most serious attention by the Government. I have held that opinion since the riots in October 1884, when there was evidence of the influence possessed by this society over the lower classes, and criminals especially, and this influence appears to have been steadily increasing since 1884.

Such has been the opinion of the Captain Superintendent of Police who has several times brought the subject to the notice of the Government. It was in consequence of entertaining this belief that I urged the Government to pass a permanent Peace Preservation Ordinance to replace the temporary Act passed in 1884. This permanent Act was passed last session.

3. The Committee commenced this investigation by stating that complaints have been made to them that the Triad Society (a) Protects criminals and interferes

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