Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 736

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approaching discourtesy. That we, who are giving hours and days, at the greatest of inconvenience to ourselves, and our business, should be told such a thing is not quite reasonable. We are quite willing to name any day which will suit these Members of the Committee of the Pó Léung Kuk. These Members of the Pó Léung Kuk Society, I submit, are not on their defence. We have to enquire into the whole question, and who are better qualified than the Members of the Pó Léung Kuk Committee, who have been serving a year on the Committee, to give us information? To whom are we to go, to whom are we to appeal, if we do not to the Members of this Pó Léung Kuk Committee?

The CHAIRMAN.-The Pó Léung Kuk are quite unaware, of course, that these charges were not made. It was stated by the Governor that these charges had been made, and they have never been publicly contradicted or withdrawn.

Honourable HO KAI-We should confine ourselves to the actual facts. There are the despatches from the Government, there is the speech of the Governor in Council and also the reason for appointing this Committee. It is stated distinctly that there were charges made against this Society.

away.

Honourable C. P. CHATER.-At the first meeting those charges were explained

The CHAIRMAN.--But it has never been made public.

Honourable C. P. CHATER.-Haven't you given them that information, Dr. Ho KAI? Honourable Ho KAL.-They do not understand that they are withdrawn.

The CHAIRMAN.-At the second meeting, when we were confirming the minutes, Mr. WHITEHEAD said the charges had never been made so could not be withdrawn, and I expressed a hope that the explanation that these charges had not been made, would be made as public as the original charges had been.

Honourable Ho KAI.--I think Mr. CHATER is under the impression that because- I have been a member of this Committee and am constantly mixing with the Chinese that I have stated to the Chinese these things. I will say that I have been questioned, but I do not feel myself at liberty to give any information as to the proceedings of this Committee because I consider them to be privileged until the report is published.

Honourable C. P. CHATER.-If those are their objections, why on earth do they not say so? When we first made application to them to appear before us they wrote to the Governor. Here they state distinctly their reason for non-attendance to be because their various occupations will not permit of their personal attendance without extreme inconvenience. If that is not their real reason, why don't they state it?

The CHAIRMAN.You must know, Mr. CHATER, that the reason for appointing this Committee was because certain charges were made against the Society. At the first meeting of our Committee the gentleman to whom two of the charges were attributed said that he had never made them. The Pó Léung Kuk and the public are ignorant of that fact, and, if you refer to the press, you will find that, since our Committee has been sitting, every journal refers to the grave charges hanging over the head of the Pó Léung Kuk. I say it is not fair to the Society.

Honourable C. P. CHATER.-That is exactly what I say. If their reasons for not coming before us are as stated by Dr. Ho KAI, why don't they say so? They do not say here in this letter that that is their reason.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-We must accept what the Government places before us. It is not a fair reason for their non-attendance, and, I say again, I should request the Government to request them to attend. If in writing these questions will be answered by whom we know not. They may necessitate, and will in all probability necessitate, further questions being put, and I do not think it is a right and proper way to elicit the information which this commission is appointed to obtain.