Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 704

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Q.-Have you heard of a man being detained for seven days by the Pó Leung Kuk? A.—I heard something said of that the other day. I don't know whether it is

The CHAIRMAN.-Do you regard the detection of kidnapping as part of the duties of the Police ?

any

A. Yes, decidedly.

Q. Do you think that the fact of having the Pó Léung Kuk has made the Police more remiss in the detection of this crime?

A. I cannot say that that is my opinion although things reported to me by one of my Inspectors tend to support that view. I think that if the Police knew of any case they would instantly bring it to my knowledge..

Q.-You as head of the Police do not think that it has made them remiss ?

A.-No.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-You have had a report...

A. Yes.

Q. Can you give us it?

A. It is confidential, but I should say that there is no objection to you having it, as this is a private investigation.

The CHAIRMAN.-A full report will be published.

Witness.-Will confidential documents be published?

The CHAIRMAN.-Certainly.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD-I think we might see it and not publish it.

The CHAIRMAN.---I think it must be published. What is the subject of the report ?

A. The subject is the Pó Léung Kuk's detectives and also some of my water police detectives. It is also on the subject of women and children and emigrants surreptitiously got at. I wanted the report and it mentions those things. If such a report were published, a great deal of which is without proof, it would be libellous. but I have not the slightest objection to the Committee seeing the report if it is not to be published.

Honourable F. H. MAY.-All the Committee want is the expression of opinion of the Inspector.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-I should very much like the report to be pro- duced on the understanding that we do not publish it.

Witness. The report gives details of bribes being given, and where persons have been smuggled out of the Colony without the knowledge of the authorities. The report is on a subject which I have taken great interest in.

The CHAIRMAN.-The report includes the Police detectives and the Pó Léung Kuk detectives ?

A. Yes.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-I think the report might give us some valuable information which might not otherwise come before us. We could make use of the information in getting inspectors, say, to substantiate it.

The CHAIRMAN.-You say, General GORDON, that they are mere allegations?

Witness.-Yes, of course, if I could prove that they were truc I should proceed with them. These are matters of rumour, but nobody would come forward to give evidence about them, for they would incriminate themselves.