( 4 )
Q.-You say you don't think you would be justified in mentioning the names of those parties?
A.No; certainly not.
Q. In private; in confidence to the Commission. I put it to you, you are bound.,
A.-I don't think so. I was asked if I had ever heard of such a thing, and I said I had heard it suggested. There was one person, as I told you on Saturday, when I remembered just at the moment.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-We want to know who the people are who say so?
A. That was a remark with reference to Mr. NEATE.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-You say you know certain persons have given currency to certain charges circulating against the Officers of the Public Works Department. You know there are persons who are saying or have said that the officers do receive or have received bribes. Now if you are able to lay your hands on the names of any persons who have set this afloat or given currency to it surely it is your duty to tell us.
A.-I don't remember them.
Q.-But can't you?
A.-No. I have heard persons say so, but I hear so many things in this Colony about different people that it goes in at one ear and out as quickly at the other, and I never go anywhere on that account. Probably there is no place in the world where people are more talkative than in Hongkong.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-The more reason why you should try to now enable us to put down such rumours if they have no truth in them.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-The character of your department is now in question. You have the means of giving us a clue by which we may be put on inquiry.
A.-No, I have not. If I had I would assist you.
Q.-You say you have heard this.
A. Something here and something there; but these rumours generally occurred in the papers.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-Precisely, but the statements made have been so recent, surely you could recollect them.
A.-No, I don't. I heard that one case I mentioned on Saturday. It was Mr. ROMANO, and he said he knew how these things were worked, or something to that effect, and that he could not get his work done because he did not do so. When I taxed him with it he said he was in a bad temper and did not know what he was saying.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-Well how did he put it?
A. He made application about a building, and the foundation was not in accord- ance with the Ordinance, and Mr. NEATE would not pass it. He was at home at the
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.