Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 874

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[LXI]

Appendix 33.

Extract from China Mail, 28th November, 1892.

THE POWERS OF THE PÓ LÉUNG KUK.

CHARGE AGAINST ONE OF THE SOCIETY'S OFFICERS.

Before Mr. WISE in the Police Court to-day, Moк CHI, a detective of the Pó Léung Kuk Society, was charged with having assaulted and falsely imprisoned a man named CHAN PAO SHAN, on board the s.s. Memnon on the 14th inst. Mr. DENNYS appeared for the prosecution and Dr. Ho KAI for the defence. The complainant said--I have lived in Hongkong for about ten years and have known defendant for the last two or three years. On November 14th I and my wife and mother-in-law went on board the s.s. Memnon to proceed to Sandakan. At 6 p.m., I was in the second-class cabin packing up some watches when the defendant came and spoke to my wife, asking her 'Who is this man?' The defendant then told me to leave the cabin, and when I said wait a minute till I lock up my watches' he seized me by the quene with one hand and struck me twice on the body with the other. He dragged me along the passage. A compradore met us in the passage and asked defendant what he had arrested me for. Defendant said I was a kidnapper. He took me aft and after showing a piece of paper to the Chief Officer ordered me to get into a boat. I did so. My wife came with me. We were both taken to the Tung Wah Hospital, where we were examined by the gentry of the Pó Léung Kuk. The defendant had hold of my queue while we were going through the streets. I did not obstruct or resist the defendant in any way.

Cross-examined-I joined a firm in Sandakan recently and I came here to take back goods. I was a money-lender while in Hongkong and I was also a broker for the engagement of labourers to send to Sandakan. There were no young girls on board the steamer. The woman I have called my wife is my

lawful wife.

The evidence of the complainant's wife and his mother-in-law substantially corroborated his own, and a Chinese Police Sergeant said he saw the defendant holding the complainant by the queue while they were on their way to the Tung Wah Hospital.

Lo WAN KAI, vice-president of the Pó Léung Kuk, stated that information had been given to the Society that the complainant was taking five women to Borneo. The defendant was instructed to go on board the steamer and to arrest the complainant if he found anything suspicious. The defendant was furnished with written authority to do this. The authority was given under the regulations of the Society which were approved by the Government.

His Worship said he was satisfied that the defendant had authority, but the question was did he exercise it in a reasonable manner.

Dr. Ho KAI asked for a remand in order that evidence could be given as to the nature of the infor- mation against the complainant, the principal witness on that point being at present in Canton. He also desired a remand in order to get the evidence of persons who were on board the steamer.

His Worship declined to grant a remand. He thought the best course would have been to bring this matter before the Civil Court, in which case a remand would no doubt have been granted but he could not possibly grant it in this case. He took into account that the defendant was provided with certain authority from the Pó Leung Kuk, but he did not think he had exercised his powers properly. He did not want to punish him severely, however, and he thought a fine of five dollars would be sufficient.

Appendix 34.

Translation.

To His Excellency

THE GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG.

The humble petition of the directors of the Pó Léung Kuk.

Sheweth,---

That the Pó Léung Kuk was established more than ten years ago, that since then the successive directors have exerted themselves unsparingly to maintain the Society, and that the number of women and girls who have been rescued and the number of kidnappers who have been detected and brought to justice is considerable.

That of late years, despite the fact that every endeavour has been made to bring the work of rescuing to a high standard of efficiency, the number of women and children