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2. The Registrar General made use of his opportunities when he saw any merchant or well-to-do person, in his office, by asking him if he had subscribed to the Pó Léung Kuk. If the answer was no, he would ask him to subscribe quickly and liberally.

3. A great number of the destitutes especially males contained in the annual report for 1891

were not actually disposed of by the Registrar General as is stated in the report.

I have no ill-feeling toward any one, but I think it is only fair that you should know it.

I shall be always ready to be of service to you if you think it necessary. If you desire a private interview with me, I shall come and see you with much pleasure.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD,

Chartered Bank.

Believe me, I am,

Yours most sincerely,

MOK LAICHI

I do not know the man. He came to my office and he told me distinctly that the official influence of the Registrar General had been brought to bear in the raising of this subscription from the Chinese.

The CHAIRMAN. I say that I consider this question quite outside our enquiry. If there is a desire to investigate the conduct of the Registrar General at any time that of course can be done. I think it is quite beside the question for me to say whether I object to such investigation or not. I consider that letter from a dismissed clerk in the Registrar General's Department has certainly nothing whatever to do with the Pỏ Léung Kuk and I am perfectly certain that the other members of this Committee will agree with me on this point.

Ho

Honourable HO KAI.-When was the clerk dismissed?

The CHAIRMAN.--I forget the date-in May last year I think.

Honourable Ho KAL.--He writes on July 15th last year, that is after his dismissal. The CHAIRMAN.-I should also like to ask the members of this Committee whether they think the proceeding on the part of a member of this Committee is in accord with propriety, when he interviews a clerk dismissed from my department in his private office without bringing the matter before this Committee. I don't know what your views on the matter may be.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-Perfectly justifiable and perfectly proper.

The CHAIRMAN.--It strikes me as being a proceeding which is, to say the least of it, most improper and one that I am surprised that a gentleman, who represents the commerce of this Colony in the Legislative Council, should ever have adopted.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.—I regret extremely that you think it necessary to make any such gratuitous remarks. They are utterly uncalled for and utterly impro- per and I protest against them most emphatically as being most improper and most uncalled for. I submit that I was perfectly justified in getting any information which would enlighten me further in connection with the Pó Léung Kuk and I shall continue to do just what I think is right and what is likely to promote the welfare and interests of the Colony generally, and of the Pó Léung Kuk, and I am perfectly sure that if those who represent the trade and commerce of the colony did not have implicit confid- ence in me I should not occupy the place I do in Council as their representative.

The CHAIRMAN.-Gentlemen, I should like to know what your opinion on this point is and whether you desire this enquiry to be further postponed, or the report drawn up.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD.-I submit that the manner in which this subscrip- tion was collected has a most important bearing on the question which this Committee has been asked to enquire into-a most important bearing--as pointed out in my letter to the Colonial Secretary.

The CHAIRMAN.-What is your opinion, Mr. CHATER?

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