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Q.-They have assisted the Government in the detection of kidnapping?
A. They have brought up several cases.
Q.-Several! We have a return here which shows 147 last year.
A.--Well, numerous cases.
Honourable Ho KAI-You know that the scheme was approved by the Secretary of State, and there have been thousands of cases brought up during the last 10 or 11 years-thousands of cases-and in many of these cases convictions were obtained, that shows that the Society has not failed to do what they proposed-to help the Govern- ment in the detection of the crime of kidnapping.
A.-I do not consider there has been
any failure. Whether there has been success or not is another thing. I do not consider there has been any success.
The CHAIRMAN.-Not, when the figures reach thousands ?
A. I cannot help remembering that almost every woman in every brothel, is a purchased woman. She is sold for prostitution and for prostitution only and it is by a system of sale and purchase only that the numerous brothels in Hongkong are filled and replenished. So long as that exists I do not think we can talk of success.
Q. With regard to these women are you aware that in nine cases out of ten they have been prostitutes before they come to Hongkong?
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-I don't think we are enquiring into prostitution. Honourable F. H. MAY.-The gist of your evidence, Mr. WODEHOUSE, goes to show, I take it, that in your opinion you won't go the length of saying that the Po Léung Kuk have failed in their duty?
A. Certainly not.
Q-But undesirable results have arisen from the fact that they have been entrusted with Police powers?
A.-I consider that it is undesirable that they should perform Police duties. Q-You don't go so far as to say that the fact of endowing them with Police duties has led to improper practices on their part?
A. Only so far as I think it an undesirable system, and, I think, calculated to encourage them.
Q. Then you say that they have not failed to perform their duty in your opinion, but that the system of conferring those duties and Police powers upon them is what they ought never to have been asked to do?
A. I consider so.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.-If no such Society were in existence the Police would probably have brought these thousands of cases themselves, and got convictions against these kidnappers?
A.-Every one of them I should say.
The CHAIRMAN. How do you account for the fact that before this Society was established there were so few prosecutions?
A.-The Police might not have been active.
Q.-That is how you account for the fact that there were so few cases?
A.—I cannot account for it in any other way. In the nature of the cases there is not the least reason why the Police should not have brought the cases themselves. Possibly kidnapping was not so extensive then as now.
Honourable Ho KAI.-Then you consider that the establishment of the Pó Leung Kuk Society from the beginning, eleven years ago, was a mistake?
A. For charitable purposes, No, but for Police purposes, Yes.
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