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Mr. Fung Wah Chin.--He talks about his agents; does he mean the cattle dealers or his men ?
A. They are simply agents, and they get these cattle for me.
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Q.--They make a profit?
A. Yes; it is only natural they should make a profit.
Q.--But they are not his agents; these people are selling to him?
A.--I treat them as my agents because they purchase stuff for me.
The Chairman. But they sell cattle to all sorts of people and sell them to all sorts of people besides you?
A. Only to me in Hongkong.
Mr. Osborne. He pays $46 to $47 for big cattle?
A. Yes.
Q. What does the agent up country pay for them?
A.-I think he pays a dollar or so profit on cach head; certainly he would not sell at a loss.
Dr. Hartigan. He pays the agent $46 per head and the agent will pay the farmer $44?
A.—Certainly, it depends upon the market, whether there was a ready sale or not. Mr. Osborne.--Does the feeder get anything like $44?
A.--Yes.
Q. And why should the farmer raise the price?
A.—On account of the great demand in Hongkong. In former days the number of cattle consumed in Hongkong was about 30, but now it is at least double that figure.
Mr. Fung Wah Chün.--What does he mean by former days? How long ago?
A.-About ten years ago,
Mr. Maitland. Has he got the monopoly in Tien Chau? who brings cattle down from Tien Chau?
A.--No.
Is he the only man
Mr. Osborne.-Does he mean to say that the man who first owns the cattle-the farmer or breeder—has raised his price from $20 per head to $44 per head ?
A. Yes, because there are a lot more cattle wanted in Hongkong.
Q.-Then it is not the pirates who have raised the price? And there is another cause he says Mr. Ladds refuses a lot of cattle?
A.--Yes.
Q. What becomes of the cattle which is refused ?
A.-It goes back to the place it came from.
Q.--About how many in one hundred does Mr. Ladds refuse supposing he is in a good temper?
A. It is a matter of uncertainty. For instance if he was good-natured he would pass the whole 100.
Q.-And if he had got a liver he would only pass 69 would he?
The Chairman.--How many has he refused to pass during the last month? A.-Twenty or thirty.
Mr. Osborne. Does he know what kind of beef Europeans like?
A.--It is what they call sirloin.
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