Sessional_Paper_1917 — Page 47

13

No. 1917

8

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE SEARCHING OF PASSENGERS ON ARRIVAL AT AND DEPARTURE FROM HONGKONG.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, 25th May, 1917.

At the meeting of the Legislative Council, held on the 31st October, 1916, certain members spoke on the subject of the searching of passengers, as follows:---

Hon. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.-In connection with the searching of passengers at the wharves for arms and opium we desire to state that serious complaints have reached some of us, and we trust that means may be found to remedy such abuses, which are à hindrance to the river-traffic of this Colony.

Hon. Mr. Lau Cut-PAK.-Sir, speaking on behalf of my senior Chinese colleague and myself. I beg to emphasize the remarks relative to the searching of Chinese passengers leaving or arriving in this Colony. From the nature of the complaints brought to the notice of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, through the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and from similar representations made to ourselves, it is evident that the present system of searching by the native excisemen and police is capable of much improvement. In our opinion there should always be present some responsible officer to whom the Chinese, when searched, could report in case of irregularities or to whom they could turn for guidance when a dispute arises. Many allegations of a serious nature have been circulated for some time amongst the Chinese and daly communicated to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, who will no doubt bring them before the Govern- ment in due course. I need not, therefore, go into details. On behalf of the Chinese community my senior Chinese colleague and myself respectfully request that the Government will give the matter carly attention, and adopt such measures as will place a stricter supervision over the work of the native excise- men and police, and mitigate the hardship and undue annoyance to which the Chinese passing through this Colony are undoubtedly subjected.

Hon. Mr. WEI Yuk, c.m.c.—1 beg to support the statements which have just been made by my colleague.

By direction of His Excellency the Governor the matter was investigated by the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Captain Superintendent of Police, and the Superin- tendent of Imports and Exports, who have made the following report:-

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

The existence to any great extent of abuses connected with the searching of passengers is not open to precise proof. The Captain Superintendent of Police points out that, in view of the small number of complaints made to his department either directly or through the European detectives on this duty, the trouble is perhaps exaggerated.

It is agreed however that it is not possible to dismiss the complaints received as without foundation. If the theory is correct that in many cases individuals pay to save themselves time and trouble, it is not uunatural that they should be shy of reporting to the Police: or that a general complaint based on such circumstances should be put forward indirectly—for instance through the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, as in these papers.

It is clear that there is plenty of opening for abuse. The lack of sufficient European supervision of the searchers, the want of proper searching sheds (searching of baggage has often to be done in the open and on wet ground), the readiness of passengers to pay rather than undergo the discomforts of search and delay, even if carrying nothing contraband, the methods of the Shipping Companies or their compradore staffs in passing as passengers' luggage what should rank as cargo, and (though this point perhaps exceeds the terms of reference which are concerned with passengers' baggage only) in allowing a margin over amounts appearing on manifests-a practice which the closer regulation of the last few rears has shewn to be very prevalent and to occasion no objection from the Customs are all matters which again make it not improbable that the complaint has foundation.