Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 815

(1)

APPENDIX A.

COMMISSION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF HONKONG.

[L.S.] HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE,

Governor.

WHEREAS it is expedient that a Commission be appointed to enquire into and report on the question of the existing difficulty of procuring and retaining reliable chair and jinricksba coolies for private chairs and jinrickshas with special reference to the follow- ing points, viz.:-

(a.) What are the causes of the existing difficulty?

(b.) Whether it is advisable and practicable to introduce any, and (if any)

what legislation on the subject?

(c.) What other (if any) remedial measures should be taken?

(d.) Whether any proposed legislation or other measures should embrace

coolies in the employ of Chinese and non-Chinese alike?

Now, therefore, I, Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor of the Colony of Hong- kong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same, do hereby under the powers vested in me by Ordinance 27 of 1886, entitled the Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, appoint you:-

1. THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH,

2. ROBERT CHATTERTON WILCOX,

3. FRANCIS JOSEPH BADELEY,

to be a Commission for the purpose of instituting, making, and conducting such enquiry; And I do hereby appoint you the said THOMAS SERCOMBE SMITH to be Chair- man of such Commission; And I do hereby appoint LEO. D'ALMADA E CASTRO to be Secretary to such Commission; And I do hereby order and direct that for all or any of the purposes of this Commission two Members thereof inclusive of the Chairman shall be and constitute a quorum.

And I do further hereby order and direct that the said Commission shall, for the purpose of making the said enquiry, have all such powers as are vested in the Supreme Court of this Colony or in any Judge thereof on the occasion of any suit or action in respect of the following matters, viz. :-

(a.) The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise, as the Commissioners or any of them may think fit.

(b.) The compelling the production of documents.

(c.) The punishing persons guilty of contempt.

(d) The ordering an inspection of any property.

And also the power, for the purposes of this Commission, to enter and view any premises. And I do hereby further direct that every examination of witnesses shall be held in private; And I do further direct that any person examined as a witness in the enquiry aforesaid who in the opinion of the Commissioners makes a full and true disclosure touching all the matters in respect of which he is examined shall receive a certificate under the hand of the Chairman or presiding Member of the Commission, countersigned by the Secretary, stating that the witness has upon his examination made a full and true disclosure as aforesaid, as provided by section 4 of the before mentioned Ordinance; And I do further require you to report to me the evidence and your opinion thereon; And I hereby charge all persons in the Public Service to assist you herein.

Given under my hand and the Public Seal of the Colony in Executive Council, this 28th day of August, A.D. 1901.

By Command,

Council Chamber, Hongkong, 28th August, 1901.

C. CLEMENTI, Acting Clerk of Councils.