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not know it. But some of the directors of the Tung Wa Hospital have been saying sometimes "Why should we go to the Registrar General? Why should'nt we be independent ?"
Q.-How long ago was that?
A.--I think about 10 years.
Q.-Since that period how has the Society worked?
A.--Very satisfactorily.
Q.--You still consult the Registrar General ?
A.--Yes.
Q.-For the following ten years things have worked satisfactorily. That being the case, don't you think the Society can continue to work as satisfactorily as it has done since that trouble? I should like to know why, if you continue to receive the help and advice of the Registrar General as you have in the past, the Society should collapse if this Ordinance is not passed?
A.—The Chinese all get so frightened. We have been accused of being a Secret Society and they all say "We are not going to have anything more to do with it.". We must have the Ordinance and have some one to look after us.
The CHAIRMAN.--You just said that the Pó Léung Kuk are so alarmed at certain charges made against them that they wish to have the Ordinance now to prevent any similar charge being brought against them again?
A.--Yes.
Q.--That is why they wish it?
A. Yes.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.
Before that word was used in Council the Ordinance was drafted and a long despatch was sent to the Colonial Secretary. The Ordinance was drafted out before anything was said about the Pó Léung Kuk being a secret Society. What was the necessity of that being drafted out before the Society had been accused of being a secret Society?
A.-The Chinese thought it would be more satisfactory.
The CHAIRMAN.--The fact that it has been called a secret Society makes them more anxious to have it?
A. Yes.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.--Have you seen this report sent in with the petition from the Pó Léung Kuk asking for a vote of money?
A.-I have not seen it. I know there was a subscription and I subscribed to it.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-A number of people did not subscribe?
A.-I don't know. A Society like this must have some officials to back it
This concluded the sitting of the Committee, which then adjourned sine die,
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