Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 829

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Q.-It means that you think that the Police Department is the best known executive department?

A. We have so much to do with them now. Our criminal staff is in touch with them and the licensing of public chair and ricksha coolies is already in the bands of the Police.

Mr. Wilcox.-You say that you have no evidence of the existence of a guild in connection with chair and jinricksha coolies but think they were controlled at the club or koon. Do you think there is any organisation existing for the purpose of pre- venting the introduction into the Colony of a greater number of coolies than would suffice for the wants of the Colony and thus keep up the rate of wages?

A.-No, I have tried to get to the bottom of that, and I have not been able to elicit any information on that point.

Q.-You have not been able to elicit any information on the subject, but you don't say there is no such thing. It is possible?

A.I fancy if there had been such a thing I would have known. I have tried hard to find out. Figures were given me and they can't come down to Hongkong as they used to before and lodge as many as they like in the houses at a time.

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Mr. Wilcox. That is so far as outside coolies are concerned, but there is something else to be said in regard to that. You say you would recommend that house ac- commodation should be increased or, at least, should be provided for coolies. Now I suppose you do not mean with reference to coolies in employment who have accom- modation, but you mean coolies seeking employment. Well, that would surely be a very limited number. I can't see for the life of me that the house accommodation comes in.

Mr. Badeley.—It seems to tend the other way. It seems to me that this want of house accommodation should drive men into employ where they get accommodation. Mr. Wilcox. They get house accommodation in all private employ with but a few exceptions. Well, I don't see therefore that house accommodation is any strong argu- ment in the matter. I should like to know if you have any idea about private house accommodation to induce coolies to come down here in search of employment?

Witness.-Well, I was told of a certain coolie coming down here in search of em- ployment, and, being found in a common lodging house by a Sanitary Inspector in excess of the number allowed, he was charged at the Magistracy and went to gaol. After being liberated from gao! he went back and made it known at his native place that Hongkong was anything but a desirable place to go to in search of employment, that he did so and found himself in gaol in consequence.

Q-bat is an interesting case bearing on the question of providing accommo- dation for coolies in search of employment. Is that what your recommendation amounts to?

A.—Yes, so that they would be available when required.

Q-I see you say there is a Hok-lo man who seems to be the head of a sort of organisation. You don't give his name though, and I don't suppose you wish to?

A-I don't wish to make any secret. He is a licensed man.

Mr. Badeley.You moun the Godown man?

A. Yes, Ngan Wing Chi.

Mr. Wilcox. With regard to the food question, you say that the fact that food being so much dearer is one reason for coolies being scarcer and requiring higher wages?

A-Yes, they would rather stay in the country and almost starve than come down here and have to pay so much for living and be subject to so many restrictions.