CO129-259 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1893 [5-8] — Page 226

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gistrar-General should be abolished altogether. (Langhter).

The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I do not quite under-dand what the hou. member means to anggest, but I know that as long as I bare bef the post of Registrar-General I have not ove.. ruled the wishes of the Chinese on the question of kidnapping or any other matter and I challenge the hon member to show that I bave done so.

Hon. T. H WHIT HRAD-I say the Regis trar-General has exercised a wise control which has been very desirable, and which has also been very effective; and I think it would be a gre t pity if that control should now be given op and disappear.

The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Hear, hear.

The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I say again that the Registrar-General does not want to b placed in the position of the dictator the Chinese and it is no use for the hou member who re- presents the Chamber of Commerce to feneo with words. That is undoubtedly the position he wishes to place the Registrar-General in.

Hoa. T. H. WHITEHEAD-They have said themselves that their object is to pat the Registrar-General under their thumb ; in fact, to control the Registrar-General.

Hon. T H. WHITEHEAD-No; not the occu- pant of the office, but the Department yes.

The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-It will scarcely be believed, your Excellency, that these two hou. members who wish the Chinese community to be under the thumb of one Govern- ment officer are agitating for a preponder- ance of the unofficial element in this Council. (Laughter.) I do not express any opinion as to whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing, bat what I want to point out is the gross incon- sistency of these gentlemen. They say that, as far as the Chinese are concerned, in a matter in which they have special knowledge they are to be overruled by the Registrar-General. The members may be able to explain their incon- sistency, but I think I have found the key to it, It is due to prejudice and want of confidence in the Chinese. What would be the result, sir, of this prejudice and want of confidence in the Chinese? I will qnote the words of Dr. Eitel, whom the hon. member for the Chamber of Commerce basdescrib. ed as "an invaluable witness," who baslived in the colony for thirty years, and who is thoroughly The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-I have read the acquainted with the people, their language and evidence most carefully and I challenge the bon. their customs. Dr. Eitel says:-"I believe the member to show me that statement. I say the principle of ruling the Chiness through the position would be a most invidious one, and one Chinese ought to be much more largely applied which no Government offoer should be called in Hongkong In kidnapping at any rate, more upon to occupy. For over twelve years the Re- than in any other oase, this principle ought to gistrar-General has worked in perfect harmony be applied. Give the Chinese a considerable with the Chinese, and should any difference of smonnt of confidence and a considerable amount opinion arise I think the proper person to whom of power, with the distinct and practical super- the final reference should be made is the Gover- vision of the Registrar-General, who is alte-nor. I pass now to the question of the per- gether the link between the Chinese community manent Committee. The reason for desiring and the European Government." And again, that is obvious. It is desirable that thore "The moment the control is of a nature which is should be connected with the Society gen- disagreeable to the Chinese, injuring their self- tlemen who have been long in residenos in the respect, showing a want of confidence, lacking in colony and whose position is calculated to inspire sympathy with the Chinese people and lacking confidence in the community. In the schedule in real advantages to the Chinese, then in that you will see the names of the gentlemen who case the Chinese will simply become apathetic or it is proposed should form the first permayent refuse altogether to do anything." And espe- committee. Their names, sir, are a sufficient oially must it be remembered, in consider guarantee for their respectability. The majority ing this point, that th Chinese know of the have been resident in Hongkong tor over more about kidnapping than anybody else. a quarter of a century. Gentlemen such as these What does the hon. senior unofficial membr have, in carrying on the work of the Po Leung say? He says: It is only the Chinese who | Kak, done excellent service to the colony and the really understand how to deal with the offenes community for many years past and if they are whose prevention is the object of the Society, encouraged there is no reason why they should and how to control properly the subordinates not continue to do so in the future, but if they who are employed for this purpose." This bare discouraged the work will not be carried ou ing the case surely it is most unreasonable that and thoril of kidnapping will increase in Hong- gentlemen who are supposed to be specialista in kong. Let this Bill be passed, put the Society this subject should be overruled by a Government on a better footing than at present, and I feel officer. I consider the position to be derogatory certain that the good work of the Po Lenag to the Chinese and a most invidious one for any Kuk will not only continue but increase. With Government officer and one which as long as I those remarks I beg to move the second reading hold the post of Registrar-General I shall protest of the Bill. most emphatically against.

Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-It has obtained up to date for thirteen years.

Hon. Ho KAI--Sir, I have much pleasure in seconding the second reading of this Bill. I am very glad, sir, that we are likely to be ananimous

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on the principle of this Bill. The two main | Ordinance to give to them a more definite legal abjects of the Bill, namely the incorporation of status and also to sympathise and encourage their good Po Leung Kuk and the endowment of that and belo them in carrying on Society with a sum of $20,000 will be advocated work by an endowment of $20,000, It is by nearly everybody and every hon. member nothing but what is just and proper that of this Council, since the Committee which we should pass such a Bill with unanimity your Excellency appointed bare unauimonsly and good feeling, since we show the Chinese in reported in favour of the two pints. True, this way that we not only sympathise with when we come to go through this Bill in Com-ther but we wish to encourage them. There mittee there may be some sections that will raise have been, sir, certain irregularities, certain a difference of opinion, but at the same time, so mistakes, made sometimes by some of the mem- far as the principle of the Bill is concerned. Ibers of the Society in the discharge of their am very glad, as I said before, that there will be duties. There was one case before the Police no contoution whatever. Now, sir. although Court where a detective was charged with carry- my hon. friend the Registrar-General has said ing out bis duty in a hasty and unwise manner. very kind words in four of the Po Leang Kuk, He was fined $5. Then there was another case I think it is only right and fair that I as repro-where the directora of the Po Leung Kak were sentative of the Chinese in this Cou eli should to a certain extent censured the q Magistrate also make a few remarks upon the character of for their irregular action of detaining a man for a that Society and also upon its work, knowing certain time against the principle of English at the same time that I am running the risk o law. These are cases that have been brought being charged by the hon. member for the forward and have been made a great deal of in Chamber of Commerce with bestowing unmer. the Special Committee and in the Press against sured praise upon the Society and its work the Society, and from these cases it was erg ned Now, sir, what was the Society formed for ? that they were not to be trusted with any power It was formed as far back as 1880 with aud that they ought to be supervised and over- the distinct object of assisting the Go- looked and so forth. Now, when we look into these cernment in the prevention of the crian cases we find that there was no intention on the of kidnapping and kindred offences, and also to part of the members of the Society or its em- assist the Government in rescuing women and ployees to do anything which was evil, aut the chil.ren from being the victims of crime and only thing is that being Chinese their ignorance degradation, and, furthermore, to assist the of the principles of English law led them by Government in the disposal of those women and excess of zeal to commit irregularities. But children in the best manner possible, having re- during the ten years the Society has been in ex- gard to their lifelong welfare and happiesss. Now istence nothing more than these trifling cases has in the carrying out of these objects I am sure been brought forward against them. ow.iaintro- the Po Leung Kuk have done their beat ducing this Ordinance ousof the chief objects is to and the success of their endeavours to attain do away with these irregularities by laying down these objects has been testified to by the Regis plainly what position the Society ought to occupy trac-General, who has been intimately associated and by making regulations and rules to guide with them for a large number of years and who the Society in the way that they should go and is the most likely person to know whether their to guide the coustibles or detectives who may work is valuable to the Government or not and be employed by, or lent to, the Society for the whether their assistance was of any vaine at all. detection of the crime of kiduapping. That is Now I will take the words of the Registrar- the very object of the Ordinanca and if we pass General with regard to its character and value the Ordinance the Society will be placed in a against thousands of others whose gross ignorance very much better position. The Committee of is ntterly deplorable and whose hasty utterances the Society will have the benefit of the experi. are most despicable (Aplause.) As witness we ence of the permanent Board of Direction. They have first the Registrar-General. I say, and apart will have the bonefit of the guidance of the vales from that I myself have ten years of personal and regulations made by the Governor, and I experience and observation of the Society's work, ventura to think that in the tuturo there will be and I can add my testimony most unmistakably fewer irregularities and mistakes made by them.

Even those who to the Registrar-General's

Now theu, sir, having said so much as to the have spoken most against the Society have general provisions of this Bill, I will come to now withdrawn mora or less their former the one point which no doubt represents the statements and they have to testify to the value chief difference between the three members of of the work and also to the respectability of the the Special Committee and the rest, and also members who from year to your represent the the diffrences (though of course the hon. gen Society. Now, sir, such a Society as this. Itleman is very likely to change bis mind). subunit, deserves well of the Government. They which we may meet in this Council to-day. deserve, in fact, the support and encouragement I refer to the management and constitution of of every right minded man in this Colony. the Society. Section 5 says:-"The Parimanent (Heur, hear.) And we are now introducing this Boned of Direction shall consist of not less

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