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Honourable Ho KAI.-Or to the Government?
A. Yes, Government inspection.
The CHAIRMAN.-Were these embodied in the final regulations approved by the Secretary of State?
A.—I think that these things were omitted from the Ordinance which was passed.
Q.-That is so. You think, Dr. EITEL, that there ought to be some Government control over the Institution?
A.-I think it is necessary.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-And if the Government insists upon the Registrar General having the right of veto, and the Chinese do not agree to that, and will abandon the Pó Leung Kuk Society, what would you propose then?
A.-I believe the Chinese will not object to this veto.
Q.-If they do object?
A. Well, I consider the action of the Chinese so important in this matter, that I would rather yield something to them in the extent of the Government control, and seek to obtain the control in some indirect way, in some other way. But I think two things are absolutely necessary, one that the work should be done by the Chinese, and, secondly, that the Government should have a good hold on the Chinese doing the work.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD. And that work which you would entrust to the Committee of the Pó Léung Kuk would extend to the powers of arresting and detaining persons?
A. Yes, I think the Chinese might be treated a great deal more on the principle of their own country. This European idea of the liberty of the subject is harmful in the case of the Chinese. I do not actually propose class legislation, but I think that if the representatives of the Pó Leung Kuk Committee, which will be really, through their elective Committee, representing the whole Chinese people, if they had the right to detain a China- man for a day or two, depend upon it, it is all right.
Honourable F. H. MAY.-I am afraid you could not make that exception.
A. -I would not apply the privileges of the English subject, which are fit only for the Englishman, wholesale to Asiatics. They do not understand it, they are not fit for it, and they are also apt to misjudge it.
Q.--If a man were found stealing or squeezing, would you approve of the aggrieved party knocking him down as would be done in some parts?
A.-If I found a man stealing in my premises, I would not hand him over to the Police.
Honourable C. P. CHATER.--What would
you
do?
A.--I would ask him "Will you have castigation administered by myself or be handed over to the Police." I would urge him to accept the castigation.
The CHAIRMAN.-You believe in governing the Chinese according to the best Chinese methods?
A. Yes, I think altogether the European principles of the administration of the law are not applicable to Asiatics, at present at any rate.
Honourable F. H. MAY.--You would have to change the whole constitution of the Colony, and might do away with the Police Courts.
A.-I would not recommend any wholesale change. I would have things go on as at present, but I would allow such little anointings of the wheels as is possible under the proposed new arrangements regarding the Pó Léung Kuk contained in the draft
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