Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 635

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found impossible to ascertain anything beyond vague rumour of the same kind as exists in respect of detectives generally in Hongkong.

In the memorandum* furnished by the Committee of the Pó Léung Kuk they state that, "the Committee have been fully alive to the temptations to which Chinese "detectives, as a class, are liable, and have, from time to time, dispensed with the "services of the detectives though they have never been able to obtain proof of any case "of extortion on the part of their employés," and that "about the beginning of this "year, the question of detectives was discussed with the Registrar General, and it was "agreed that, in order to prevent abuses, the detectives should be changed as frequently "as possible, and it was thought that might be done by borrowing the services of District. "Watchmen, who would be paid by the Society, and who could be employed for short "periods, at the end of which they could be sent back to their regular duty in the "District Watchmen's Force."

We consider that the Pó Léung Kuk Society have exercised due precautions to prevent abuses arising in connection with their detectives and are of opinion that such abuses are least likely to occur when the detectives belong to a Society under Chinese supervision, the members of which are accessible to and favourably situated for obtaining information from the Chinese community There is nothing to show that the Pó Léung Kuk detectives are disreputable. On the contrary both the detectives in the employ of the Society bear a good character. Kw'ONG CHEUNG was in the Police Force for 20 years and retired on pension in 1891, his character being good. The other MOK CHI, who is a head district watchman, was in the employ of the Society for 41 years and the Pó Léung Kuk Committee state that his services were retained on account of the good work he did and of the great number of convictions he obtained in kidnapping cases. We find that since the establishment of the Pó Léung Kuk there has been little or no co-operation between the Police and the Society in the detection of kidnapping and kindred offences. We are of opinion that such co-operation is highly desirable and should be encouraged an opinion held by the late Captain Superintendent of Police, Major-General GORDON, and which the present Acting Captain Superintendent of Police also shares, and recommend that the Pó Léung Kuk detectives should report regularly to the Captain Superintendent of Police in the manner suggested by Mr. FRANCIS in his draft constitution.

6. Whether a grant not exceeding $20,000 should be made by the Government or whether it would not be preferable to hand over the block of houses situated in New Street, including the first floor and the site, to the Society instead of making them a grant in money.

In view of the good work the Society has done and is doing and of the fact that for many years it has not only assisted the Government in the suppression of kidnapping but has also taken charge of destitutes, defraying the cost of their board and of their passage home, and that it will continue to perform the same charitable functions in future, thereby relieving the Government of a burden which would be very costly if it were not borne by the Society, we are of opinion that the Society should receive a money grant from Government. Seeing that the Society has collected a subscription amounting to $30,000, we recommend a grant of $20,000, part of which amount can be recouped by the sale of the houses in New Street when a favourable opportunity offers for disposing of them.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

HO KAI.

F. H. MAY.

HONGKONG, 3rd April, 1893.

* See Appendix 14.