Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 265

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HIS EXCELLENCY SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.,

&c., &c.,

GOVERNOR, &c.,

Hongkong.

SIR, The undersigned, having been appointed by Your Excellency under See Govern- the terms of your Commission dated 10th May, 1906, to enquire into and report ment Notifi- on the following matters, viz. :-

1.

2.

cation No. 390, 10th May, 1906, as

Government

"Whether the Administration of the Sanitary and Building amended by Regulations enacted by the Public Health and Buildings Notification Ordinance 1903, as now carried out, is satisfactory, and if not, May, 1906. what improvements can be made."

"Whether any irregularity or corruption exists or has existed among the Officials charged with the Administration of the aforesaid Regulations;'

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now have the honour to lay before Your Excellency our Report.

2. The first Meeting of the Commission was held under the Presidency of the Honourable Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C., on the 21st May last. Mr. POLLOCK subsequently resigning, the Chairmanship of the Commission was transferred to Mr. HEWETT.

3. The change of Chairmanship caused some little delay, and the second Meeting of the Commission therefore was not held until the 30th May.

4. Since that date the Commission has sat regularly, and in all 60 Meetings, extending over 215 hours, have been held. In all 183 witnesses have been examined, of whom 134 were Chinese.

5. Very considerable time was spent in examining this latter class of witness as not only had all their evidence to be translated, but in most cases they shewed, at all events when first appearing before the Commission, great reluctance in giving evidence. "This will be referred to later in the Report.

6. Every effort has been made to keep the enquiry within reasonable bounds and to curtail as far as possible, compatible with a proper carrying out of the object in view, the number of Meetings and the amount of evidence taken.

7. From the very nature of the Commission, however, it was from the first evident that the Enquiry must of necessity be a protracted one.

8. We would here state that experience has clearly shewn that bad the first intention been carried out, and the investigation left to a Committee instead of a Commission, little, if any, evidence could have been procured, as many witnesses would have altogether refused to appear and give evidence had they not been compelled, while others, among them some of our leading British witnesses, only answered the questions put them, the Commission being vested with power to insist upon their so doing.

9. At the beginning of the enquiry, the Commissioners proceeded to deal with the first matter set forth in Your Excellency's Commission.

10.

After seven Meetings, however, certain information having been fbrought to our notice, we were obliged to leave this part of our enquiry, and take

up the question of corruption.

11. We were forced to the conclusion that not only great irregularities but Jeorruption and bribery were rampant in the Sanitary Department. This was unfortunately by no means confined to the native Assistants, Interpreters and Subordinate Officials, but there was reason to fear extended throughout the staff of British Inspectors.

No. 450, 26th