CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9] — Page 143

Σ

19.

139

was suspected of corrupt practices, failed to return to duty

in September 1906 because he knew he was being watched. A

banishment warrant was issued against him on the 20th September

1906 by the advice of Executive Council and a notice of his dis-

miosal and banishment for corrupt practices was published in the Gazette. (Conf. 0.5.0. 7084/06).

(g) Early in September 1906 an anonymous petition purporting

to come from certain Traders and Ship Owners of Hongkong was received by Government making charges against Fan Tsung-hing (vide para 30 infra), a Chinese writer in the Harbour Office.

It was stated that he "had the audacity to guarantee the success

of the coxswains in their examinations, receiving from each of them $22.50 for his service: that he levied squeeze from owners

of ferry launches in connection with their monthly certificates:

and that he received bribes in connection with the smuggling of

arms and explosives. The matter was placed in the hands of the

Police who, however, failed to get evidence against Fan Tsung-hing

(h) on the 4th March 1909, Commander Taylor reported that

Leung Kit-shing, clerk in the Marine Surveyor's had absented

himself from duty without leave since the 1st idem. Inquiry

proved that Leung was greatly in debt and not being able to get

the money to pay his debts had absconded (0.0.0. 1564/09).

office

(1)Sin Sik-kuan, Interpreter at the Hunghom Harbour Station

was reported by Captain Barnes Lawronce on 20th November, 1905 to

havo done his work unsatisfactorily and on the 18th idem he had

been charged with embezzlement of 25 cents, the case being re-

manded on bail. On the 22nd idem Captain Barnes Lawrence reported)

that Sin Sik-kuan had absconded (0.8.0.1 in 5955/05).

(1) On the 22nd October 1910 the Harbour Office Shroff

Wong Hau-nam absconded with $3,839.36: and the present corres-

pondence is the result of that occurrence.

(k) When on the death of Teang Shiu-kau applicants were

called for by circular to fill the vacancy, it was at once ap-

paront how popular was the post of shroff in the Harbour Depart-

ment. The salary of the post was only $240 1420 by 100 annually