Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 645

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SECOND MEETING

OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO CERTAIN POINTS CONNECTED WITH THE PÓ LEUNG KUK SOCIETY.

Held on the 26th May, 1892.

Present.

Honourable J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, (Registrar General), Chairman.

F. H. MAY, (Acting Colonial Treasurer).

C. P. CHATER.

99

Η ΚΑΙ.

15

T. H. WHITEHEAD.

""

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman read a letter addressed by him to the Colonial Secretary and the Colonial Secretary's reply thereto, with reference to the status and powers of the Special Committee.*

The Committee considered what mode of procedure should be adopted by them in conducting the inquiry, and a discussion ensued.

The Honourable Mr. CHATER stated that, as he was entirely unacquainted with the details and interior working of the Pó Léung Kuk, he should be glad to have some information on the subject. He would, therefore, recommend that, before proceeding to consider the other points referred to them, the Committee should inquire into the working of the Society.

The Honourable Mr. WHITEHEAD also declared himself to be unacquainted with the details and interior working of the Society and desirous of obtaining information regarding it before dealing with any of the other points of inquiry.

The Honourable Dr. Ho KAI considered that the Committee should, in the first instance, investigate the charges which had been made against the Society, as that appeared to him the fairest mode of inquiry and one in accordance with the practice usual in such .matters.

The Honourable Mr. MAY agreed with the Honourable Dr. Ho KAI.

A discussion then ensued with regard to the charges against the Society, when the Honourable Mr. WHITEHEAD stated that the charges were a bagatelle when compared with the important principles involved in the Ordinance proposed for the incorporation of the Society, principles repugnant to the aims and spirit of our constitution, and that, when he had called the Pó Léung Kuk a Chinese Secret Society, he had not meant that it was a Secret Society such as is liable to be dealt with by the Ordinance against Secret Societies, and that he would explain more fully, later on, what meaning he had intended to convey by the words he had used. He also stated that he had never brought any charge against the Pó Léung Kuk Society of obtaining subscriptions improperly by 'pressure' or 'order,' that he had not used the words 'pressure' and 'order,' but had meant to refer to the influence of the Registrar General with regard to such subscriptions as narrated in the attached correspondence.†

The CHAIRMAN inquired whether any of the members of the Committee knew who the member of the Police Force was, referred to in point 5 of the subjects of inquiry as having suggested that the runners of the Society are disreputable and squeeze, and was informed that none of the members knew to whom reference was made.

The Honourable Ho KAI moved that His Excellency the Governor be asked to name the Police Officer who made the suggestion, and remarked that it was only fair that this should be done.

* See Appendix 3.

+ See Appendix 4.

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