CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8] — Page 171

256 of the 29th November last, and approved by your des. patch 2:17 of the 21st Ja-

nuary

no

last

I have the honour to be

Sir, Your Most Obedient

Humble Servant,

MBlack Major General, Administering the Go-

vernment

D

TO

Enclosure I

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN M.P.,

0.0. 169 18825

22 WC 13

Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State

for the Colonies,

THE PETITION OF Lo Tung Cai, or No. 45, POTTINGER STREET, VICTORIA, IN THE COLONY OF HONG KONG, LATELY SERGEANT No. 161, IN THE POLICE

FORCE OF THE COLONY,

RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH ----

1--Your Petitioner was employed as an office coolie at the Magistracy from 1871 to the 1st May, 1880, when he joined the Police Force as a third class con- stable. On the 1st December, 1892, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and appointed to the important post of Barrack Sergeant at the Central Police Station, and on the 7th of August, 1894, he was further promoted, to be a first class Ser- geant, which is the highest rank a Chinese can aspire to. During the whole of his service, up to the time of his resignation and subsequent dismissa, hereinafter mentioned, his conduct was uniformly good.

2.--In September 1897, your Petitioner, in consequence of instructions from Mr. A. Mackie, then Acting Deputy Superintendent of Police, sent to the [Ionour- able FH. May, C. M, G., the Captain Superintendent, a written application to be allowed to resign from the Police on the pension to which he was entitled.

3.-Your Petitioner received no reply to his application, but, after waiting two weeks, the Captain Superintendent, who was also the Superintendent of the gaol, accused him of having received bribes trom gamblers and confronted him with a prisoner, named Sham Io, who was then undergoing a sentence of nine months with hard·labour, for a breach of the gambling ordinance. This prisoner denied that he had ever paid any money to your Petitioner, but stated that he had paid money to one Tang Kam to pay to him. But, notwithstanding Sham Ju's denial and the fact that there was absolutely no evidence whatever to show that your Petitioner was guilty of the offence imputed to him, he was subso- quently dismissed from the Force.

4.-Under threats of banishment the man Tang Kam was detained a prisoner in Victoria gaol about three weeks, in order to compel him to give evidence in another case. If the Captain Superintendent had been able to extort from that man, or to obtain from any other source, any evidence that your Petitioner had been guilty of receiving bribes, or of any other dereliction of office, your Peti- tioner respectfully submits that he should have been charged, and tried in a pro- per manner, before a Magistrate. But he denies that he has ever received any money from any person in respect to gambling houses, and he has never shirked a fair trial.

5.--About a month after his dismissal, your Petitioner sent, through the Registrar General's Office, a respectful Petition to Itis Excellency the Governor, Sir, W. Robinson, G. C. M. G., complaining of the injustice that had been done