CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 366

i

:

363

had children. This woman he has elevated to the rank of

First Wife passing her over the head of the Secondary Wife

and ranking her equal with Mr. Maclean's illegitimate

daughter. In doing so he has broken Chinese Marriage Law

and outraged Chinese etiquette. Not content with three

wives and 6 children he has a second Concubine - a pure

Chinese

making a harem of four in all.

It should be added here that at

the time Sir F. Piggott's Memorandum refers to, Mr. Ho

Tung was not residing at the Peak nor has he until recently

ever resided there. He was residing at his own house on

the upper levels of Victoria. Some of his family were,

however, residing at the Peak in a house which is Mr. Ho

Tung's property, and which is at an elevation of some

1,000 feet above sea level. There was therefore nothing to

prevent Mr. Ho Tung, if his desire was change of air only,

from seeking it on his own property. He has now done so.

5.

Shortly after my arrival in the

Colony the Chief Justice mentioned to me at a Garden Party

that he proposed to let his house to Mr. Ho Tung and asked

if I had any objection. I replied that I had no personal

objection but added that I would like to consider the

matter as the Peak Reservation Ordinance was in question

nor