1941-03-31 — Page 5

Page

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

GENERAL

IMMIGRATION INQUIRY: WITHDRAWAL OF LETTER TO COLONIAL SECRETARY

MR. FORREST ASKING TO

¿

BE RELIEVED OF POST

A LONG STATEMENT WAS HANDED IN BY ME FORREST WHEN THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, COMPRISING HIS HONOUR, SIR ATHOLL MACGREGOR, MR. C. BERNARD BROWN, MR. DAVID DRUMMOND, MR. H.ˇ K. WOO, AND MR. K. M. A. BARNETT (SEC- RETARY), resumed its sitting, at the Supreme Court, on Saturday morning. In his statement, Mr. Forrest referred to three incidents "which occurred on board the ss. President Monroe, and to the re- quest of certain members of his staff to him to withdraw the letter he prepared for the Colonial Secretary asking to be relieved of his post.

At the conclusion of the morning's sitting, the Chairman an- nounced that the Inquiry would be resumed at 9.30 am. tomorrow, at the Supreme Court, when evidence would be given by a witness in Chambers. The public hearing would commence at 10.15 a.m.

Mr. K. M: Theung, the first wit- Mauritius were secured, "I might ness called. was asked by the add." he said, that it was largely Chairman whether there was any- a formality to be secured there and thing he wished to add to what he the opinion was expressed that it had said in his letter to the Secre¡ was a useless formality.” tary of the Commission on March Mr. Forrest: It probably was. 27, and in which he complained Mr. Forrest then referred to a of incivility on the part of certain minute he (Mr. Forrest) wrote in officers of the Department. He re- which a shroff complained that he plied in the negative. “

BY

ABATEMENT ROUND THE IN CHOLERA

ONLY 100 CASES NOTIFIED

tours

Seventeen cases of Cholera were notified as having occurred the Colony during the 24 ended at midnight on Friday., as increase of six as against the Returns for Thursday. Of the cases reported 12 were from

the Victoria Registration District [fouri from Old and New Kowloon and, one from Shapkiwap...

Of Returns are as follows: Diphtheria, two cases: Dysentery, eight cases; Tuberculosis, 32 cases; and one each of Measles, Enteric Fever and Puerperal Fever.

POLICE COURTS

AT CENTRAL

SNATCHER SENTENCED Bentence of 13 months hard labour, to be followed by two years' Police supervision, was imposed on Lain Chol, 27, unemployed, by Mr. Sheldon on Saturday for stealing a pair of gold and Jade earrings from an unknown complainant in Bowrington Road, near Wanchai Road, on March 27.

Det-Sgt. J. Bentley said that. complainant was an elderly wo man. After the alarm was given; defendant was chased and arrest- ed by a constable, who falled to of locate the victim. The earrings | were recovered from defendant's

It was stated that defendant had two previous convictions. COMPLAINANT ABSENT

·303 FATALITIES Since the beginning of the year. handled sums very much in ex-'a' total of 557 were reported In his letter Mr. Tseung, after cess of his security. Mr. Pudney's which 303 proved fatal. questioning, the rights of the Im-reply to the minute was that. In the first three weeks of the mouth. migration Department to refuse shroffs should not handle money month 434 were reported but an ap. the seven applications he handed that was not commensurate with preciative decrease was witnessed in on behalf of some friends, asked their Security.

in the past week when only 100 whether the General Agency's į Mr. Forrest referred to a Post cases were notified.

Owing to the absence of com- powers were greater than that of Office ale of October last year

plainant in the case, Mr. W. L. the Immigration Office as it ac-when the Auditor took strong ex-

Alexander, of Messrs, Percy Smith, cepted the ветер applications reption when he found that a

Seth and Fleming, Wong - Ching- which were rejected by the Im-shroff in the Kowloon Post Office

The Health Bulletin of Eastern chung. 26, barber, charged with migration Office. Mr. Tseung also was handling $780 cash in excess Ports for the week ending. Mar. attempting to steal one fountain questioned the policy of the IO. in of his security. Mr. Padney agreed 22 records only two cases at pen from the person of the former Issuing notices bri plain paper, and that that was so.

Small-pox from Macao and one in Des Voeux Road Central, near

At present 203 patients Ура undergoing treatment.

EASTERN PORTS

his referring applicants to the Mr. Forrest: And you sent these from Shanghai.

General Agency.

* CURSED AND SWORE”

papera to me as Postmaster Gen- | eral asking me to take steps to re-

Mr. N. B. Maher, cailed by Mr. gularise the matter. You are aware W. H. Chen, said that he had that the shroffs, I think it is five had to leave the premises and re- known Mr. Chen for 24 months, or

I have now in the head office were enter by the front door. since he joined the Immigration secured for a total of $10,000,-

Office, and that during that period he had always foupid Mr. Chen courteous in his treatment of the public.

Mr. Pudney: I am not aware of that.

CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT ·· Mr. Forrest: There is a consider able amount of cash going in and a considerable amount of cash going out.

IN THE WRONG

the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, Con March 27, was discharged by

Mr. Lowry on Saturday,

Det.-Sgt. Willison was in charge

#

of the case,

» PICKPOCKETS CONVICTED Lam Yuen, 26 unemployed, was

before Mr. LOWTY with stealing a

ол

purse,

As the Immigration Officer, on whose instructions both Mr. Chen charged and Mr. Poinset were working un-Saturday der, was absent from the office at containing $18 Hongkong currency, Referring to the day on which

that time the matter could not be $20 in Chinese notes, a gold ring Mr. Chen was alleged, by a former

referred to him, but, added Mr. and papers, from Wong Man- witness, to have been incivil, Mr.

Polnsot in his statement, a full re-teung outside the Central Theatre Maher stated that he remembered Mr. Pudney: By way of repay-port was later made to him. No on March 23, and Pum Lol, 28, un- Mr. Chen asking a man to take his ment of deposits.

reply was given to Mr. Sequelra's employed, with receiving and with position in the queue whereupon Mr. Forrest: So that if you de-letter because he, Mr. Sequeira, returning from 10 years' banish- the man used abusive language duct the amount received as fees was as far as I know decidedly ment. and "oursed and swore."

for passports and immigration in the wrong.".

First defendant was sent to six On Mr. Chen asking witness documents to get the actual cash

Before the Commission adjoined months' imprisonment, while sec- whether he remembered the exact handled by my office you have to its sitting, Mr. Forrest handed in ond defendant was sentenced to a

double the amount... words used, the Chairman inter-

the following statement which was total of nine months. posed, saying: "That has absolute-

"Mr. Pudney: You have to double read out:

Det.-Agt. W. Summers prase- ly nothing to do with this inquiry. the deposits which is about half,

Since the last hearing at which cuted. * Cursed arid

Mr. Pudney added that the I told the Commission that the swore is enough.

"FORGED DOCUMENT You do not imagine that we are amount received by a shroff in a letter of Mr. Keswick, with its going to put the actual language day was not necessarily always in charges, came to me as a complete Three persons appeared before used into a public report, do you?" his hand. In any case $8,000 divid- surprise, I racked my brains for Mr. Lowry on Saturday on Mr. Li Chung-man, anothered by the number of shroffs came incidents in connexion with the charges in connexion with utter member of the Immigration Office to less than the security."

examination of the President liner ing of a forged document. Mr. Forrest: At the last hearing on the day in question." " staff. gave evidence similar to that

Lam Chak-yuen, 31, buyer, was you told the Commission that when of Mr. Maher.

The following incidents have charged with making an applica you found something going wrong now occurred to me:

tion at the Secretariat for Chi- in an outside department, and, as

At the commencement of the proceedings, the Chairman read three letters which had come to you have no disciplinary powers

THREE INCIDENTS

14..

1. Shortly after my arrival I

over the head of that departament, was informed by one of my sub-trouble to check his facts later. If

Library, Supremo Cour

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1941. -PAGE

STOCK-TAKING CLEARANCE

FOR

-3 DAYS ONLY-

COMMENCING TO-DAY

200

DAY, AND EVENING DRESSES

$5,00

100

FROM

TO

LADIES' HATS

FROM

$250 TO $1500

¿

$2500

LANE CRAWFORD LTD.

The

Ladies Salon

·MEZZANINE FLOOR.

The House of Quality & Service,

252525252.525Z ASZT

for a

were

nese Affairs on March 18 passport in the name of one de- ceased, Wong Wing, with intent to defraud, while Lee Ying-yeung, 25, insurance banker, and Tsang Sau-ming, 23, shop foki, charged with alding and abetting.j All defendants were remanded until Tuesday, on the application of Det -Sgt. W. Summers, who is in charge of the case

AT KOWLOON

TOUT FINED

Mr. A.1. Burnie appeared before

hand. The first was trom Mr. Mal you could do was to report.ordinates that Mr. M. K Lo was then he was informed that I was Mr. D.JN. Anderson on Saturday

Bevan, of Pentreath and Company. Yes. who said that he had always found Mr. Forrest extremely courteous, the second was from Mr. DJ Sloss, Vice-Chancellor of the Dri- versity; who paid tribute to the ex

Forrest had carried out a matter

BASIS FOR ACTION

Defendant was fined $50 or two

on board. "I' at once sent some-the Immigration Officer, I can only as complainant in a case in which body to find Mr. Lo and to request regard his description of me as Ching Trim, 27, was charged with I suppose you took it for granted him to come to see me. The reply a passport clerk as a deliberate in-soliciting for an immoral purpose. that the report is intended to be a

was that Mr. Lo had already left. accuracy and in the worst possible desirable. Yes.

that. Inspector Baysting sald about 9 p.m. on Friday Mr. Burnle peditious manner in which Mr. with regard to my department?xamination and i confidently ask occasionally given to bullying, I defendant approached him siris

What action did you recommend My intention was to ask Mr. Lo to taste.

sit with me while I supervised the On the one hand, if I am only was in front of Marcel's Cafe where

in connexion with an applicationition should be better and to ap- I had the intention to ask one of I should have chosen as an occa.for complainant.

Mr. Pudney: That the organisa- whether anybody can imagine that would ask whether it is likely that that he could get "beautiful giris" on behalf of Mr. Stoss's servant, ply a proper system of books. and the third was from Mr. T.E.

Mr: Forrest: There was no Gor- the most unsparing critics of the ston for bullying a time when I Wilson, General Agent of the Pre-ernment accountant in the depart-whole scheme of immigration con- went specially to show my staff in months' hard labour. sident Lines, who stated that he ment. By implication you recom-trol to be a witness of discourtesy. board a ship how passport exami- JUNK MISTRESS CHARGED had always found Mr. Burnie amended that an accountant was

2. Amongst the passengers was nation should best be conducted.. A 39-year-old widow, Ho Mul was capable and competent officer, desirable.-Yes.

a" Furopean woman who came to ́ ́ WITHDRAW RESIGNATION charged before Mr. Anderson on UNSECURED OFFICERS }

| the examination desk accompanied Did you, therefore, recommend

On the other hand, if bullying Saturday with possession, on board Mr. Forrest then proceeded to that Government should take steps by her little daughter, aged 4 or 5 were habitual in me the following Class IV boat No. 71520 in Aber- put questiore to Mr. EW. Pudney, to supply me with an accountant I saw that the daughter's name incident is difficult to understand deen two rattan chairs, a wooden Accountant-General, concerning I recommended that Mr. A.J.Gport and I said to the little girl, have, from time to time, come in eight bars of soap, three bicycle was entered on the mother's pass-nasmuch as my own staff must bedstead, four bandies of cloth, unsecured Government offers Taylor should be used. handling cash,"

Did you find there was an im-So you are another Robin, are for more than a fair share of such inner tubes, eight tins of rubber Mr. Forrest produced two les provement after that report was you.The mother then said to treatment: On one of the many solution, eight tins of paints, two when he (Mr. Forrest) was Post-put in?-1 found an improvement me Is your name Robin, too?" I occasions on which I was disposed bicycle repair outfits and one va- master General one of which re- after Mr. Taylor, was there.

venture to ask whether either myto give way to the difficulties, cuum fark, knowing them 20 ferred to the case of a wireless Surely it was your duty as Ac question would have been asked which beset me and on account of have been stolen outside the Co- engineer who, in the course of his countant-General to follow

by a bully or whether the mother' up duties, was sent to the bank to that

a specially great disappointment,jloný. report and prompt the would have repiled in that friend coupled with what I regarded as Accused was remanded for 48 cash a cheque for $10,000 and after Colonial Secretary and the Finan-ly fashion to one-of bullying and want of sympathy on the part of hours. wards discovered that the money clal Secretary to some action. I uncivil demeanour. paid him was short. The wireless cannot give orders to the Colonial 3 An Englishwoman produced task. I actually wrote to the Alleged to have robbed several Engineer begged to be excused on Secretary or the Financini Secreto me her passport and I asked Colonial Secretary and signed a persons of their cargo ou board a the ground that it was not part tary.

whether she had a certificate of letter asking to be relieved of my funk inside British waters, Kwok of his duty to handle cash Mr. Up to that time there could not vaccination. She produced it and post. Forres decided otherwise and the have been a proper system of ac- noted that she had been Inocu-

Biktim, 23, salt smuggler, and That letter was, of course, seen Ho Tim. 33. fisherman, were matter was referred to the Co- counting. There could have been lated not only against cholera and by several members of my staff charged before Mr. Anderson on

·lonia] Secretary,, *.

If there was a proper system of smallpox but against a number of No fewer than three of these mem-Saturday with robbery by two or Replying to questions arising out books,

other diseases as well. I remark-bers came and begged me to with- of this, Mr. Pudney asked if he Mr. Potasot, an Assistant Im-ed to her, You seem to be proof draw it, saying that if I left the handled cash regularly or at odd migration Officer, then handed in against almost everything except department they would also resign Det.-Est. A, F. Estall asked for times

And Fald that he (MY. statement in which he replied to direct hit. This was of course, or ask to be transferred elsewhere Pudney) regarded regularity of the complaint voiced by Mr. Se-sald with a smile and the lady reas they would not work under rated. considerable importance.

queira on Thursday. In his state-plied, also smilingly. The conver- those conditions for any other THE FA GAMING HOUSE ment Mr. Potnsot said that on the sation is hardly in keeping with head than myself. Feeling there- For keeping a ""The Fa" gaming day in question, Mr. Chen was con- what the Commission has heard fore that I owed loyalty to those house at No. 141; Woosung Street, trolling the front entrance while concerning my attitude on the day who had shown such trust in me ground four, Lee Chi chun, 24. he himself was attending to the in question.anotechn

I withdrew the letter which was cook, was fined $100 by Mr. Mac- Mr. Pudney: That is one of the back door, as there were large. DELIBERATE INACCURACY......

never sent forward.

namara on Saturday, purposes.

crowds outside both doors. A gen The letter of Mr. Keswick bears, I take this opportunity to hand It was stated that a raid was Mr. Torrest recalled the famous tlemen, who came in by himself I think, its own refutation so far in a few letters which have reach carried out on Friday and defen Carvalho Yeo case in which a very among the other people, was asked as accuracy and veracity are co-ed me since the last session; the dany was found writing "The Fa" large sum of Government money by him what he wanted. Mr. cerned It is inconceivable that friendliness and sense of fair play tickets: was abstracted and there was no Bequeira mentioned the name of when Mr. Keswick took the trouble which they prove may do some Table money amounting

to cash to the transactions someone on the Staff but, as that to ascertain my name, he was not thing to restore the falt name of $2.05 picked up was ordered to

TAGS IN MAURITIUS EU was the common excuse to gain Informed at the sam time of my the Colony for which Major Man-¡be placed in the Poor Box In answer to further questions, easy admittance, Mr Poinsot told official position. The etter shows |ners and Mr. Keswick are 60 prù- F. Det. Det. O. Pope" In charge Mr. Pudner agreed that oncefs in him politely but firmly that he that he had taken to particular perly concerned.

Mr. Forrest pointed out that the

whole purpose of the Regulations was to secure proper custody of public money,

those who could help me in my

JUNK ROBBERY SEQUEL.

more.

Tel. 28151.

In aid of Bomber Fund and B.W.0.F.

BOY MEETS GIRL

At The K.C.C.

Sat. April 12th

Mon. April 14th

Sat. April 19th

Seats 53.00; $2.00; $1.00; bookable at Messrs. Montrie & Co., or The Club.

USE OUR SPECIAL

AEROMAIL

LETTER PAPER & ENVELOPE

AND

PAY LESS ON POSTAGE

a remand of two days which was.

Letter Paper Envelopes

$1.50 per 100 Sheets $1.75 per 100

of the case,

ON SALE AT:

HONGKONG

DAILY PRESS

Telephone 33225

15:19, Queen's Road, Central: