community had first shown its interest in the Society by subscribing freely, and that moneys now subscribed have been raised very largely in consequence of the personal solicitations of the Registrar General.
4. On this point I repeat what I said in my letter to the Government dated the 7th May, 1892. I believe the Registrar General to have been animated by the very highest and best motives. It was a good thing in itself that the Chinese should subscribe freely for the useful and charitable purposes of the Pó Léung Kuk; it was well that they should be urged to do so, and persuaded out of their objections and prejudices. It was natural that the Registrar General should take an interest in the Society and do all he could to further its objects. I am sure that he made use of nothing but the most legitimate argument in his efforts to gain subscribers, and that no man who refused to subscribe would find any difference in the dealings with him as the Registrar General afterwards. But I am equally confident that in the minds of the Chinese there was the dread that refusal would influence the action of the Registrar General and of the Government. I do not believe that the Chinese are capable of separating Mr. LOCKHART from the Registrar General, and I quote here in support of my opinion from a speech of the Honourable Ho KAI, delivered in the Legislative Council on the 25th March, 1891, during the discussion on the Gambling Ordinance.
"It is very easy to get Chinese to come to one's office, especially the Registrar General's Office, and get them to say what one wants, for on asking them certain questions they, observing the same deference they pay to officials of their own nation, will simply say ‘Aye, Aye' to every question addressed to them, although at the same time they do not agree with the opinion expressed. It is a matter of notoriety that they will not contradict official remarks. I wish when the Registrar General wishes information he would get it in a fair and just manner, allow the Chinese to come together in open meeting and then give the result arrived at, instead of taking opinions given under I will not say the terror but the peculiar feeling with which they come before a high official." I must say that I regret that the subscriptions for the Pó Léung Kuk were not obtained from the Chinese in public meeting or on the solicitation of their fellows, instead of being, as very many of them were obtained as the result of personal interviews with the Registrar General at his Office and under "the peculiar feeling" with which Chinese come before a high official.
4
5. My conclusion on this point is that in the past there has been no general interest taken by the Chinese in the Pó Leung Kuk or in its operations, no subscribers, no subscriptions, no annual meetings, and no elections in due form. The so-called Pó Leung Kuk has been merely a Committee of the Tung Wah Hospital supported by the Tung Wah Hospital and Man Mo Temple, and by contributions from the Directors only. To say that because the Tung Wah Hospital, a corporate body, defrayed all the expenses out of its corporate funds, therefore all the members of the Tung Wah Hospital may be looked on as members of the Pó Léung Kuk, is simply to play with words. It might just as well be said that because the Government once subscribed a $1,000 therefore the members of the Government were members of the Pó Leung Kuk.
WORK DONE BY THE PÓ Léung Kuk.
6. However irregularly constituted, it must be admitted that the members of the so-called Pó Léung Kuk Committee and the Tung Wah Hospital have done good service in the suppression and detection of kidnapping, in finding food and shelter for women and children, and in assisting the Registrar General in the investigation of cases referred to them. The somewhat wild expressions in the second paragraph, of page vii, of the Report drafted by the Chairman, about thousands of women and girls rescued, thousands of destitutes cared for, thousands of persons restored to their relatives, are in my opinion simply words and nothing more. There is no evidence of the number of persons passing through the hands of the Society from 1878 to 1888. The accounts show but a small expenditure during those years. The returns for 14 years to the 31st December, 1891, show a gross total of but 2,751 persons in all passing under the care of the Pó Léung Kuk. The thanks of the Government and the Community are due to the Chinese gentlemen who, in spite of the apathy and indifference of the great mass of the Chinese population and of great want of support, have carried on the good work from year to year, and to the Tung Wah Hospital for the accommodation afforded the Pó Léung Kuk, as well as for the pecuniary assistance without which the Pó Leung Kuk must have died of inanition.
7. One word more with reference to the subscriptions in 1892 to the funds of the Pó Leung Kuk. I have no evidence before me to show how much, if any, subscriptions have been paid up or in whose custody they are. One witness thought that a portion had been paid up, and that it was in the custody of the Tung Wah Hospital. The Pó Leung Kuk, although required by their rules to appoint Trustees of their funds, have evidently not done so.
Question 1.
Whether it is advisable to give the Society a legal status.
8. I do not quite understand what is meant by this question. The Society, so far as there is a real society, has a legal status in so far as any unincorporated society can have. If the question is, should it have a more formal and definite organization and position than it has now I say unhesitatingly, Yes.
9. I am of opinion that the Pô Léung Kuk properly organized may be made most useful. I recommend its incorporation by Ordinance. It is a less circuitous and less expensive method of giving the Society a corporate existence than by registration under the Companies Ordinances, and the procedure by Bill enables the Government to exercise a more effective control over the organization and working of the Society, and a more complete power of improvement or suppression.
Question 2.
A. Whether provision should be made for such status in a Bill similar to that under discussion or---B. Whether, as suggested by the Secretary of State ten years ago, the Society should be formed under the Companies' Act of 1865 and its rules and organization formally approved by the Local Government.
10. I have already said I approve of and recommend that any reorganization of the Pó Leung Kuk should be by Ordinance, but so far as the Bill before the Council is concerned I think it too indefinite. It does not make adequate provision, or suitable provision, for the constitution of the Society, its government, or its working.
11. As the result of the evidence given before us and of the discussions between the members of the Committee, I am of opinion, with Dr. EITEL, a most invaluable witness, that under proper control the Pó Léung Kuk can render very valuable service in detecting and bringing to justice kidnappers and other offenders against women and children. I adopt his words "that none but a Committee of respectable Chinese residents can effectively and safely grapple with the shades of difference between kidnapping and selling and cope with the tricks of Chinese kidnappers and Chinese anti-kidnapping detectives." I therefore recommend the conservation of that portion of the original scheme of the Pó Leung Kuk, but with more effective safeguards than at present.
12. The Ordinance should empower them to retain and pay detectives, these detectives should be sworn in as, and have all the powers of constables, their honesty and fidelity should be guaranteed by Bonds given by the Pó Léung Kuk, and the Society should be answerable in damages for any wrongful acts of their constables. They should report to the Society and to the Registrar General as their immediate chief. They should be required to lodge all persons arrested or detained forthwith with the Police.
256
community had first shown its interest in the Society by subscribing freely, and that moneys now subscribed have been raised very largely in consequence of the
personal solicitations of the Registrar General.
4. On this point I repeat what I said in my letter to the Government dated the 7th May, 1892. I believe the Registrar General to have been animated by the very highest and best motives. It was a good thing in itself that the Chinese should subscribe freely for the useful and charitable purposes of the Pó Léung Kuk; it was well that they should be urged to do so, and persuaded out of their objections and prejudices. It was natural that the Registrar General should take an interest in the Society and do all he could to further its objects. I am sure that he made use of nothing but the most legitimate argument in his efforts to gain subscribers, and that no man who refused to subscribe would find any difference in the dealings with him as the Registrar Genera! afterwards. But I am equally confident that in the minds of the Chinese there was the dread that refusal would influence the action of the Registrar General and of the Government. I do not believe that the Chinese are capable of separating Mr. LOCKHART from the Registrar General, and I quote here in support of my opinion from a speech of the Honourable Ho KAI, delivered in the Legislative Council on the 25th March, 1891, during the discussion on the Gambling Ordinance.
"It is very easy to get Chinese to come to one's office, especially the Registrar "General's Office, and get them to say what one wants, for on asking them certain "questions they, observing the same deference they pay to officials of their own nation, "will simply say ‘Aye, Aye' to every question addressed to them, although at the "same time they do not agree with the opinion expressed. It is a matter of notoriety "that they will not contradict official remarks. I wish when the Registrar General "wishes information he would get it in a fair and just manner, allow the Chinese to "come together in open meeting and then give the result arrived at, instead of taking opinions given under I will not say the terror but the peculiar feeling with which 'they come before a high official," I must say that I regret that the subscriptions for the Pó Léung Kuk were not obtained from the Chinese in public meeting or on the solicitation of their fellows, instead of being, as very many of them were obtained as the result of personal interviews with the Registrar General at his Office and under "the peculiar feeling" with which Chinese come before a high official.
[
4
5. My conclusion on this point is that in the past there has been no general interest taken by the Chinese in the Pó Leung Kuk or in its operations, no subscribers, no subscriptions, no annual meetings, and no elections in due form. The so-called Pó Leung Kuk has been merely a Committee of the Tung Wah Hospital supported by the Tung Wah Hospital and Man Mo Temple, and by contributions from the Directors only. To
that because the Tung Wah Hospital, a corporate body, defrayed all the expenses out of its corporate funds, therefore all the members of the Tung Wah Hospital may be looked on as members of the Pó Léung Kuk, is simply to play with words. It night just as well be said that because the Government once subscribed a $1,000 therefore the members of the Government were members of the Pó Leung Kuk,
say
WORK DONE BY THE PÓ Léung Kuk.
6. However irregularly constituted, it must be admitted that the members of the so-called Pó Léung Kuk Committee and the Tung Wah Hospital have done good service in the suppression and detection of kidnapping, in finding food and shelter for women and children, and in assisting the Registrar General in the investigation of cases referred to them. The somewhat will expressions in the second paragraph, of page vii, of the Report drafted by the Chairman, about thousands of women and girls rescued, thousands of destitutes cared for, thousands of persons restored to their relatives, are in my opinion simply words and nothing more. There is no evidence of the number of persons passing through the hands of the Society from 1878 to 1888. The accounts shew but a small
expenditure during those years. The returns for 44 years to the 31st December, 1891, shew a gross total of but 2,751 persons in all passing under the care of the Pó Léung uk. The thanks of the Government and the Community are due to the Chinese gentlemen who, in spite of the apathy and indifference of the great mass of the Chinese population and of great want of support, have carried on the good work from year to year, and to the Tung Wah Hospital for the accommodation afforded the Pó Léung Kuk, as well as for the pecuniary assistance without which the Pó Leung Kuk must have died of inauition.
of these
7. One word more with reference to the subscriptions in 1892 to the funds of the Pó Leung Kuk. I have no evidence before me to show how much, if
ally, subscriptions have been paid up or in whose custody they are. One witness thought that a portion had been paid up, and that it was in the custody of the Tung Wah Hospital. The Pó Leung Kuk, although required by their rules to appoint Trustees of their funds, have evidently not done so.
Question 1.
Whether it is advisable to give the Society a legal status.
8. I do not quite understand what is meant by this question. The Society, so far as there is a real society, has a legal status in so far as any unincorporated society cau have. If the question is, should it have a more formal and definite organization and position than it has now I say unhesitatingly, Yes.
9. I am of opinion that the Pô Léung Kuk properly organized may be made most useful. I recommend its incorporation by Ordinance. It is a less circuitous and less expensive method of giving the Society a corporate existence than by registration under the Companies Ordinances, and the procedure by Bill enables the Government to exercise a more effective control over the organization and working of the Society, and a more complete power of improvement or suppression.
Question 2.
A. Whether provision should be made for such status in a Bill similar to that under discussion or---B. Whether, as suggested by the Secretary of State ten years ago, the Society should be formed under the Companies' Act of 1865 and its rules and organization formally approved by the Local Government.
10. I have already said I approve of and recommend that any reorganization of the Pó Leung Kuk should be by Ordinance, but so far as the Bill before the Council is concerned I think it too indefinite. It does not make adequate provision, or suitable provision, for the constitution of the Society, its government, or its working,
11. As the result of the evidence given before us and of the discussions between the members of the Committee, I am of opinion, with Dr. EITEL, a most invaluable witness, that under proper control the Pó Léung Kuk can render very valuable service in detect- ing and bringing to justice kidnappers and other offenders against women and children. I adopt his words "that none but a Committee of respectable Chinese residents can "effectively and safely grapple with the shades of difference between kidnapping and selling and cope with the tricks of Chinese kidnappers and Chinese anti-kidnapping "detectives." I therefore recommend the conservation of that portion of the original scheme of the Pó Leung Kuk, but with more effective safeguards than at present.
12. The Ordinance should empower them to retain and pay detectives, these de- tectives should be sworn in as, and have all the powers of constables, their honesty and fidelity should be guaranteed by Bonds given by the Pó Léung Kuk, and the Society should be answerable in damages for any wrongful acts of their constables. They should report to the Society and to the Registrar General as their immediate chief. They should be required to lodge all persons arrested or detained forthwith with the Police. These
256
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