CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12] — Page 585

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the Public Health and Buildings Bill to consult with the

Chinese and to draft out and settle the Petition to His

Excellency the Officer Administering the Government

against the introduction to the Council of a measure

affecting the welfare and interests of the Chinese.

(7) With regard to the Public Health and Buildings

Bill now before the Council, I have accepted no fees or

pecuniary reward nor was I promised any such fees or

pecuniary reward, for forwarding, promoting, advocating

or opposing such Bill. I have neither accepted any fees

or pecuniary reward nor have I received any promise of

such, from any person or persons whomsoever, for advocat-

-ing and representing the views of the Chinese in the

Council on the said Bill.

It is my humble opinion that the rule was evidently

made for the purpose of preventing bribery, corruption

and indirect influence, and therefore the amount of the

fee and the magnitude of the professional services actual-

-ly rendered together with the surrounding circumstances

must be carefully taken into consideration before one can

arrive at the conclusion that the acceptance of an

honorarium as in my instance be taken to be within the

scope of the resolution and the spirit of the rule as

above quoted.

Further, allow me to point out that however

advantageously such a rule may be applied to Members of Parliament in England it can hardly be indiscriminately

applied to a Colony like Hongkong. Here, in Hongkong, by far the great majority of the inhabitants are Chinese,

with who are mostly unacquainted of the English language, much

Those few of the Chinese who less with the English Law. know English well, are unable to clearly understand and fully grasp the principles of the English Law and the

There are fewer language in which it is usually couched. still who can draw up a Petition or communication to the

(8)