Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 799

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a vast amount of our time, which we can ill afford to spare. Then with regard to the petition of the directors of the Pó Léung Kuk to the Government, I suppose that was sent in, in August or September last. I do not know whether, Mr. Chairman, you can tell us when that petition was sent in ?

be?

The CHAIRMAN.--It is dated the sixth intercalary moon. What date would that

Honourable HO KAI.-August.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-When that petition was circulated, after perusing it, I saw it was a very important document and I had a copy of it made and there are certain expressions in that petition to which I really cannot but take most serious exception. It imputes to the members, or some of the members, of this Committee the most improper motives. The document is most disrespectful in regard to those members of the Committee. I am extremely sorry that such a document should have been sent in by the members of the Committee of the Pó Léung Kuk.

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The CHAIRMAN.-What are the expressions to which you take exception ? Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-One is as follows:-** Those who are enquiring knew this quite well and acted purposely in this way in order that the "directors might be induced to express themselves in a hasty and confused manner." To accuse any members of this Committee of doing what is a most improper proceeding is a most improper course for the directors of the Pó Léung Kuk to follow, and a most improper and most unfounded charge to prefer against any member of this Committee.

Honourable Ho KAI.-They have done nothing more than some members of this Committee have themselves been doing.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD dissented-and said they state that our conduct seems to be imbued by a most unfair spirit in all our proceedings. I do not know what the Government has done in regard to this petition, but I am certain that if the unofficial members had laid such a document as that upon the table of the Legislative Council it would have been returned to them by the Governor. I consider this petition is most disrespectful, as it imputes most improper motives to one or more of the members of this Committee.

Honourable Ho KAI.-It is not presented to this Committee.

The CHAIRMAN.--No, it is presented to the Government.

Honourable Ho KAI.-They can express any opinion they like regarding any member of this Committee.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-This petition, I think, should form a portion of our proceedings.

The CHAIRMAN.--It is in the appendix-No. 34.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Another thing is this-but perhaps we had better confine ourselves to what I have said about this petition. I am exceedingly sorry that such an uncalled for charge should have been preferred against any member of this Committee. Perhaps, Mr. CHAIRMAN, you could state what the Government has done?

The CHAIRMAN.-No, I cannot. I do not think that is before the Committee for enquiry. This Committee asked that they might be supplied with a copy of the peti- tion. I think it was first of all referred to in one of the letters of the Pó Léung Kuk in which it was said that if this Committee wished to see the petition they might get it from the Government. Upon that the Committee, or some member of the Committee, said he would like to see the petition, and that is how it came before us. But I think it is outside the province of our enquiry to ascertain what the Government has done with regard to the petition.