CO129-291 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [5-6] — Page 204

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

he had not been brought before me as Supt. of Police for any such reasons for a long time previous to that, and that great indulgence was shown him after I had made his statement.

2. Chong On's declaration. Having been given the information contained in Leung Iris statement, it was my desire to verify it. I made enquiry for Chong On, mentioned in the witness statement, and for the other main witnesses in the Mitchell trial. I found that he and the other Chinese witnesses in that trial - Jang Kam - had fled the Colony after the trial, being in fear of both Police and gamblers.

I advertised in a local Chinese newspaper for three months for Chong On to come back, and then I spoke to Mr. Bell-Irving about him, and asked him to tell his compradore - the opium Farmer - to write to him to come back, as I desired to see the man. Apart from my desire to see him, I was anxious that he should be made to feel that he was not unwilling to come back, and that he should not suffer for having had the courage to speak the truth - a thing that few Chinese in the circumstances would have dared to do.

Mr. Bell-Irving very kindly interested himself in the matter, and the result was that on the 12th of October Chong On appeared at my private house. I therefore asked him if he would tell me all he knew about bribes paid to Police in connection with the smuggling of opium. I did not mention Leung Ji's name, or anything to show that I had received any information already on the subject of bribery in connection with opium smuggling.

Chong On replied that he would tell me on two conditions: (a) that I should not make use of him as a witness in any criminal prosecution in connection with the matters he would relate to me, and (b) that I would not divulge what he would tell me to anyone else. I promised that I would keep both the conditions, and he thereupon made a statement to me in the Chinese language. A copy of which is attached to his declaration. No one else was present when he made the statement.

Mitchell was convicted on the 31st August 1897, and Chong On states that he left the Colony immediately after the trial. He was certainly not in the Colony when I made enquiries for him at the end of August 1897, after Mitchell was convicted.

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he had not been brought before me as Supt. of Police for any such reasons for a long time previous to that, and that great indulgence was shown him after I had made his statement. 2. Chong On's declaration. Having been given the information contained in Leung Iris statement, it was my desire to verify it. I made enquiry for Chong On, mentioned in the witness statement, and for the other main witnesses in the Mitchell trial. I found that he and the other Chinese witnesses in that trial - Jang Kam - had fled the Colony after the trial, being in fear of both Police and gamblers. I advertised in a local Chinese newspaper for three months for Chong On to come back, and then I spoke to Mr. Bell-Irving about him, and asked him to tell his compradore - the opium Farmer - to write to him to come back, as I desired to see the man. Apart from my desire to see him, I was anxious that he should be made to feel that he was not unwilling to come back, and that he should not suffer for having had the courage to speak the truth - a thing that few Chinese in the circumstances would have dared to do. Mr. Bell-Irving very kindly interested himself in the matter, and the result was that on the 12th of October Chong On appeared at my private house. I therefore asked him if he would tell me all he knew about bribes paid to Police in connection with the smuggling of opium. I did not mention Leung Ji's name, or anything to show that I had received any information already on the subject of bribery in connection with opium smuggling. Chong On replied that he would tell me on two conditions: (a) that I should not make use of him as a witness in any criminal prosecution in connection with the matters he would relate to me, and (b) that I would not divulge what he would tell me to anyone else. I promised that I would keep both the conditions, and he thereupon made a statement to me in the Chinese language. A copy of which is attached to his declaration. No one else was present when he made the statement. Mitchell was convicted on the 31st August 1897, and Chong On states that he left the Colony immediately after the trial. He was certainly not in the Colony when I made enquiries for him at the end of August 1897, after Mitchell was convicted.
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