CO129-473 - Individuals - 1921 — Page 225

3

น

223

emasculate the suggestion. These people would be left to be dealt with exactly as at present: by

detective enquiries leading to Police Court

prosecution wherever possible: or where evidence

for the Court might be lacking but the case in the

opinion of the Governor in Council justified such

action, by banishment. The records of the Colony

show that the campaign against traffickers along

these lines is actively carried on: and they

show also a constant strengthening of the law,

generally on the advice of the Chinese.

The attitude often taken up by foreigners

on this question seems to ignore the efforts of the

Chinese themselves in Hong Kong and indeed would

almost seem to deny them the possession of any

proper sympathy or initiative. The institution known as the Po Leung Kuk is evidence to the contrary; and it is difficult to see what better

at present

means there are of finding a solution for the difficulty. The Kuk is managed and financed by voluntary annual Committees of Chinese, there being in addition a permanent Committee, called when necessary, of the most prominent and public spirited residents of the Colony. All of them

have served on the Annual Committee, and on other

charitable Committees as well. The Kuk itself ia

the Girls Home and in it are kept cases under

consideration: special ordinances give the

!

necessary