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The CHAIRMAN.-You say in all cases the Pó Léung Kuk detective is the prosecutor?
A. Or the district watchman. I did not say in all cases. I say in all cases brought by the Pó Leung Kuk. I did not say that the Police never bring up their own cases as well.
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Q. Do not Inspector LEE and Inspector HORTON bring many cases of kidnapping and offences under Ordinance 11 of 1890 ?
A.--Possibly.
Q.-Only possibly, you are not certain ?
A. They may do so, I will not say that they do not.
Q.---The depositions taken at the Magistracy will show, I suppose, whether they have been in charge of cases?
A. They would show that.
Q-So by referring to the depositions we may find out whether they were in charge of cases, or who was ?
A. Yes.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Offences against the Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance are referred, I understand, to the Registrar General and the Pó Léung Kuk, would it not be better to refer them direct to the Police ?
A.-My own view is that all cases in which a criminal charge is made should be in the hands of the Police and the hands of the Police alone, and I consider, in connection with cases brought by the Pó Léung Kuk, that the system is not advantageous in the interests of justice. For instance a case that came before me the other day was this. A Pó Leung Kuk detective boarded a steamer, or was on the wharf when the steamer arrived (I forget which) and saw people arriving from the steamer whom he suspected. He therefore put some questions to the different parties, and, his suspicions being confirmed, he took them to the Pó Léung Kuk. This was in the night time. The Pó Léung Kuk made an examination, investigated the case and examined the parties, including the prisoner, and decided that it should be made a criminal case, and therefore sent them to the Police Station. They were afterwards brought before the Magistrate. Now, I consider that the preliminary investigation was irregular and ought not to have been held.
The CHAIRMAN.-Was that case tried before you ?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you find the prisoner guilty?
Q.-Did
A.-I did not.
Q.-You discharged him?
A. Yes.
P
Q.--Where do you say the Pó Léung Kuk detective saw these people?
A.-I think they were just arriving from a steamer.
Q.-You are sure of that?
A.-I am.
Q.-You are sure that the detective was not coming down on the steamer from Canton and overheard a conversation between the parties on the steamer?
A.-I do not think he was, but I could easily refer to the case.
Q.-I think that he was on board. We could have the case of course?
A.-Certainly.
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