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course, so far as the reference to unofficial members is concerned, was a policy adopted by the Government and with that I had nothing to do. Whether that is a wise policy or an unwise policy it is not for me to criticise.

But since your Excellency has seen fit to send a communication to the Honourable Senior Unoffi cial Member, at his request we gathered together and discussed the question. Of course the meeting was not conducted as openly as meetings of this Council, and so far as I am concerned I also advocate the policy of the public participating in the unofficial members' deliberations in any place and at any time, and I think it would be better, if there is no objection on the part of the Government, that in future unofficial gatherings should be attended by the members of the Press at all events, so that our transactions there may not be misunderstood and misrepresented at the choice of anyone. Now the facts of the case are that about a fortnight ago your Excellency sent a communication to the senior unofficial member and he at once convened a meeting by circulating a communication to us, but unfortunately I was not aware the communication was marked "Confidential." I do not know whether it was marked by the Government or not, but the mark was on the enve- lope, and that was explained to us as soon as I got to the first meeting. When I was asked by a member specially whether I should regard the mark "confidential" as binding upon me I at once said that I would not be bound by any marking on the envelope, since the business affected the interests of those I represent and not my own interests. I further stated that I would not only decline to regard that as confidential, but any other communication of a like nature. It referred to me not in my private capacity but as a representative of the Chinese, and I therefore would not regard it as binding on myself in any way. In that case, as in inany other cases when I have received communications of that kind, I have discussed these questions with my constituents. Such were the facts as far as my position is concerned. Certainly this secret conclave does not apply to me.

I assure you

I never regarded such a meeting as a secret conclave. We expressed our opinions to each other as freely as we could and after every meeting it is invariably my practice to tell the leading Chinese about it. I think my unofficial colleague, Mr. WEI A YUK, will confirin me when I say that previously no important question has been brought before the unofficial members that I would not disclose and give away. With regard to the section of the public which I have not the honour to represent, I leave it to their own representatives to speak about. This question has been discussed at two meetings and the result communicated to your Ex- cellency. As soon as the result was communicated I think the Honourable Mem- ber for the Chamber of Commerce asked leave to publish the communication.

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD-I did not ask if you would agree to its being published. I had a perfect right to publish it.

Honourable Ho KAI-You said you would publish it and we all said "Yes, certainly."

Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD-Did Mr. BELILIOS say so? Honourable E. R. BELILIOS-Oh, certainly.

Honourable Ho KAI-I understood it was unanimously agreed that there was no objection and that we had a perfect right to publish it. Another serious charge has been brought against us and I take this opportunity, with your Excellency's permission, to publicly, emphatically, and strongly protest against an Honourable Member, whether official or unofficial, casting such an aspersion upon his honourable colleagues-men who are equally as if not more honourable than himself-certainly equally as honourable and as honest-as to say that a body of men had a private interest and a motive in advocating a policy which he considered to be injurious to the Colony. I say that is an aspersion which I take the first opportunity to publicly deny. So far as concerns myself I am not a landowner, nor am I interested in landed property, but those whom I have represented for the last few years, as his Excellency the Governor has appointed me, have large interests in the Colony and it is my duty to look after their interests and weigh