567
:
In support of this contention I beg to refer to
May's Parliamentary Practice 10th Edition page 82 where
it is stated
"Yo guard against indirect influence it (le Parl-
"iament) has further restrained the acceptance of fees
"by its members for professional services connected with
"any proceeding or measure in Parliament A member is
"accordingly incapable of practising as counsel before
"the House or any Committee.
Nor is it con-
•
"sistent with Parliamentary or professional usage for
"any member to advise, as counsel upon any private Bill,
"or other proceeding in Parliament.
I may mention that some time ago that when there
was some mention of European and Chinese property
owners appearing by counsel before the Legislative
Council I drew Doctor Hokai's attention to the above
passage.
I make the above representation purely in the pub-
lic interest and in no way am I influenced by any feel-
ing of chagrin because a measure which I had advised
(the Water Bill) has not proved entirely acceptable
Whether there are taps in the tenement houses or not
does not concern me ersonally in the smallest degree.
But I do think and real that there is danger in a
man in Doctor fokai's position whose advice and voice in
Council naturally carry great weight in matters concern- nig the Chinese and especially when he speaks and votes
on behalf of the Chinese community, as he did in the Water Bill, being paid for services in connection with measures that intimately affect the Chinese and that
come up for discussion in Council.
Colonial Secretary's Office
December 5th 1903,
(signed) May
Colonial SecretarY
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