Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 751

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Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.--Who are Chinese ?

A.-Who are Chinese who, through their contact with the Europeans, have deteriorated as regards their national conscience. If you know a Chinaman, not the servant of a European, he is more to be trusted than the Chinese in the Government service.

The CHAIRMAN.--But in the matter of these marriages the Registrar General does not take the advice of his own staff. I wish to tell you what is done. A girl is in the Pó Leung Kuk, who is to be married. The fact is reported by the Pó Leung Kuk Committee; the security is mentioned by the Pó Leung Kuk Committee, and the Registrar General enquires into the validity of that security, so the preliminaries of the marriage are arranged by the Pó Léung Kuk. All that the Registrar General has to do is to be satisfied that the security is valid and that the man is coming forward as a bonâ fide husband.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.--From whom does the Registrar General obtain that information?

The CHAIRMAN.-The information as to security he obtains through his own department.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Can you tell us what the channels are for obtaining information?

The CHAIRMAN.-Of whether the security is valid? I turn up my books. I find that the firm has perhaps been established for some years, and I myself have a good idea of its business. It is only a question of $200 or $300, not a large amount like $10,000. Witness. There is nothing more difficult than to ascertain whether a man is a partner in a shop or not.

The CHAIRMAN.-No man is taken unless he produces his registration ticket. Witness.-Yes, but the man in the shop may lend it to him.

The CHAIRMAN. The owner may be called at any time; he is made responsible. Honourable Ho KAI.-I don't think that is exactly Mr. WHITEHEAD's question. He wanted to know how you arranged for the security, how you know that the wife is to be taken as first wife.

The CHAIRMAN.-I take the man's word for it.

Witness.-Yes, you have to put that trust in the Chinaman, and you might as well put that trust in the Permanent Board of the Committee and leave it in their hands. The Registrar General, if he gets this veto, has quite enough power. When he hears of any abuses he can make enquiries,

The CHAIRMAN. We have the power to call at any time for the production of these women who have been married under the bond.

Honourable F. H. MAY.-To hark back to the question of the Police. It is part of their duty to suppress kidnapping, is it not? The whole suppression of kidnapping is not in the hands of the Pó Leung Kuk, is it?

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A.-I don't suppose it is. The Pó Léung Kuk are only to aid the Government.

Q.--According to what you have been recommending, the Police are of very little value indeed and the Pó Léung Kuk are the only people who can put the kidnapping down. Don't you think that the Pó Leung Kuk might benefit by being associated with the Police more? The Police must count for something, they are a large force.

A. Yes, I think it would be beneficial to the interests of the Government if it could. be done, but I don't think it can be done. I don't believe you could get the leading Chinese residents to assist the Superintendent of Police in the way in which they would work with the Registrar General.