Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 772

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Q.-The community have not been anxious to be members of the Pó Léung Kuk in order, that they might pose as Mandarins or persons with great power?

A.-No.

Q.-You think that they have been actuated by a desire to do good?

A. Yes, good to the public. When I say they exercise judicial functions I mean that they have misunderstood their functions.

Honourable Ho KAL.-You think the more their duties are defined the better?

A. Yes, the better for the management.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-And you are further of opinion that the members of the Committee should vote and decide as to the disposition of girls?

A. Yes.

Q.-Assuming that this Ordinance is passed into law and the Registrar General is President of the Pó Léung Kuk, suppose he finds himself in a minority-say, eight members out of ten or twelve decide upon a certain course and he is in the minority- should the decision of the eight members be carried into effect?

A.-I think so, but the Registrar General will seldom if ever be in a minority. Q. That the Registrar General should have no veto whatever?

A.-No.

Honourable F. H. MAY.-In the early part of your examination, if you may call it so, you stated in answer to Mr. WHITEHEAD that the Pó Léung Kuk could do nothing whatever to assist the Government in the detection of kidnappers. That is what I understood you to say and quite recently, in answer to Dr. Ho KAI, you say that the Society has rendered great assistance.

A.-I did not say great assistance, I said some assistance.

Q. Which opinion do you wish to be final?

A-I don't think the assistance has proved quite a success. They might have rendered some assistance.

Q.-You stated that during your own time-while you were Vice-President- through the instrumentality of your detectives some men were brought before the Magis- trate. Surely this is a measure of success- a very considerable measure of success. You say that you do not think that the Pó Léung Kuk have rendered any assistance, and yet the latter part of your evidence goes to show that they have rendered much assistance.

A.-I quite understand you. I don't call it great assistance.

Q. Are you prepared to admit that they have rendered some assistance?

A. Yes. I don't see that in any way kidnapping has been suppressed. I don't suppose you will ever suppress it.

Q. Are you prepared to go so far as to say that they have rendered assistance which could not have been rendered by the Police?

A.--I should certainly say so.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Will you explain how they have rendered service which the Police could not have done?

A. I think the Police would not have such information as they give to the Pó Leung Kuk. I think the detectives of the Pó Léung Kuk have greater facilities to get information.