Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 779

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Q.--Is the register of the members of the Society to be open to the public?

A.-I saw nothing of that kind in the Bill. Might I, however, say that in these writings I criticised the Ordinance as it stood, and, in making the law, if there is any omission of that kind, I take it there would be rules made afterwards, but according to that Ordinance there was no provision.

Q.--Does the Government provide that the annual accounts and report are to be published?

A. The Ordinance does not provide for that.

Q. Does the law insist upon registered commercial companies publishing such particulars?

A. Yes certainly. All registered commercial companies have to publish their affairs.

.Q.-In such a serious matter as this affecting the social and family life of the Chinese, should these things be done in private ?

A. No. I think that we are here to encourage the Chinese to work upon constitutional methods such as we understand them rather than we should adopt what I consider is the oriental method of dealing with these things. I think in the long run we should get to understand the Chinese better than we do, and the Chinese would get to understand us better if we encourage them to follow out the constitutional methods of Government in every way, and appeal to the regular authorities, and have publicity in all that they do and say. According to this Ordinance, I take it, a man who is brought before them has not even got the security which is offered to the lowest criminal-that is of having his evidence taken in public. I think that at once the Chinese should be taught that no such thing is allowed.

The CHAIRMAN.-Will you show us the section in the Ordinance which gives the Pó Léung Kuk power to compel people to come before them?

A.-I do not know that it is in any particular section, but through the whole Ordinance there runs the want of publicity.

Q.-With regard to that point you were just mentioning, on the subject of having people brought before them and taking evidence, I should like to see the section of the Ordinance which touches on that point.

Can you refer us to the section ? But take the case quoted. There they did hold

A.--I do not know that I can.

an enquiry.

Q.-I am talking of the Ordinance.

A.-I cannot say that it is in the Ordinance specifically.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-There is nothing in the Ordinance which precludes it?

A.-No, not that I saw. There is nothing which gives them power I admit but they are to have police and detectives at their service. I was referring more to the general tendency of the Ordinance whereby they may have police and detectives and so on, and then bring people to justice. From what I have seen, and cases lately that have occurred, they certainly make enquiries first. Well, I am of opinion that that enquiry should be public the first enquiry into anything of that kind should be public. It is the security to the individual.

Q.-Is there any provision that the buildings of the Society are to be open to the subscribers or the public?

A. I do not think there is.

Q.-Does the proposed Ordinance occur to you as if secrecy were its underlying principle?

A. Yes.