( 31 )
Q-Does not the Registrar General invariably consult the Pó Leung Kuk with regard to any girls sent to the Pó Leung Kuk?
A. Yes, he asks for recommendations.
Q.-And is it not his rule to adopt those recommendations ?
A.-Yes, as a rule.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-There have been exceptions?
A. Yes, certainly.
Q.-That being the case does it discourage the Pó Léung Kuk from carrying on their work?
A. If the Registrar General was right it would not discourage them.
Q.-If he happened to be wrong?
A.-Then, of course, they wouldn't like it.
The CHAIRMAN.--Have you ever known a case where there has been a serious dis- agreement?
A. No, not a serious disagreement.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-You told us of one.
The CHAIRMAN.-I will explain that to the Committee.
Mr. Ho FooK.--That was in 1883 or 1884.
Honourable Ho KAI-It was a matter of form I think. There was some dis- agreement about the form of marriage, wasn't there?
Mr. Ho Fook.-Yes, the Pó Léung Kuk Committee objected to bridal chairs being used.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you remember Dr. STEWART having a discussion with the Pó Léung Kuk on the question of the bridal sedan? The Pó Leung Kuk differed from him on that question, did'nt they?
A. Yes.
Q.--The point was finally carried by the Registrar General. The opinion he combated was that a girl rescued from distress was not entitled to the same respect shown to other girls?
A. Yes. Of course, if you marry a girl you must go through the proper
ceremony.
Q. That includes the use of the bridal sedan ?
A.-Yes.
Q.-The Registrar General wished to show as much respect for the girls as possible?
A. Yes.
Honourable Ho KAI.-Prostitutes and such like?
A. Yes, he made no distinction.
Q.-The Chinese are all against it?
A. Unless you want these girls to be taken as concubines, I don't see why they should not use the bridal chairs.
Q.--You know that it is sometimes impossible to get rid of them as first wives. You know that the Pó Léung Kuk Committee, or some of them, considered that the girls would do very well as second wives to respectable men?
A.-The English law does not permit bigamy.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.