307
.
י:
entirely fictitious claim. In the course of this case a former Chinese Interpreter in the Supreme Court and an expert in Chinese handwriting, who is of comparatively small means but whose evidence would have been of some weight, was offered $5,000 to give evidence of the identity of the handwriting in certain docu- -ments. He examined the documents and formed an opinion adverse to the claimants. He refused to give the evidence desired, and the offer was gradually increased to 850,000, but, I am glad to say without avail.
9.
It is a moral certainty in many cases that the Chinese account books produced in evidence have been complete- -ly manufactured, or have had additional leaves Bound in, for the purpose of the proceedings. These forgeries are prepared with so much skill and appear so frequently as to suggest that their preparation is supervised by persons with experienos of the
Courts and of the use of such forgeries in other 08308.
10.
All attempts to deal with this plague spot have failed. It is often impossible to get sufficient evidence for a prosecution, partly because the guilty persons are careful to cover up their tracks, partly because of the fear which they
om inspire, and partly because the persons who could give evidence are generally accomplices. In any case such passed masters in the art of fabricating evidence would usually be able to set up a sufficiently plausible case in reply. For the reason last given proceedings under the present Deportation Ordinance would probably be futile, because even if the suspected person were not a British subject he would be prepared with such
evidence of Hongkong birth and parentage as would preclude his being deported. Besides, some of the suspected interpreters are
by reason of their birth and parentage not liable to deportation under the present law.
11.
After careful consideration I have come to the
conclusion that the only course is to introduce legislation
making
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.