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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
what we wished them to do and subsequently to keep them clean. I have on such occasions given these people a memo, addressed to the cleansing gang telling them that Mr. ----- had given notice of his intention to cleanse his premises and that there was therefore no need to cleanse them for him for a few days, but if he failed to do the work that he must just be treated in the same way as the others. The occupier of Nos 91 and 103, Bonham Strand got such a paper from nie and brought it back next day saying the constable in charge of the cleansing gang had read it and pitched it on the floor. The man was to me evidently actuated by malice and quietly told him I would inquire into the mat- ter. I subsequently saw P.C. 103 and he denied having pitched the menio. on the floor, but as the man would not take it from him he put it on his desk. Of course this is a case of an apparently respectable Chinex trader's word against a European constable's word, and consequently it is somewhat difficult to arrive at a sound conclusion. However, in view of the manner of the two men, when discuss ing the subject with me, I am convinced the truth
lies with the constable.
The following letters were also amongst the papers :---
Public Works Department, 15th May, 1896. Sir.-In view of the letter concerning the removal of cocklofts appearing above your sig. nature in this morning's issue of the Daily Press, I have the honour to request your consent to the publication of the information (omitting names) you furnished me with on Monday last. The complaints were immediately investigated and doubtless the results will be of public in- terest. I have the honour, &c.,
FRANCIS C. COOPER, Director of Public Works.
W. Danby, Esq., C.E.
Hongkong.
taken with a view to obtaining redress for the apparent misrepresentation made against the Board and its officers in Mr. Danby's letter."
The PRESIDENT-I think this letter contains | accusations against the Board as a whole and against its officers, and though I would be the last to in any way curtail the rights of any person who has just complaints to make to come forward and make them to the Beard-in such a casa. I would encourage the fullest in- vestigation-I have to protest against persons writing to the public newspapers stating that they know facts of their own personal know- ledge which, upon investigation, appeared to be mere repetition of what others had told them. There was a good deal in this letter which cer- tainly Mr. Danby did not see, as his, letter seemed to imply he did. Mr. Danby reported certain matters to me which he knew of his own
personal knowledge, and which he objected to be made public, but which have been circulated confidentially amongst the members of the Board, and the members will see from these papers that the information Mr. Dauby sent was information that was told him and not what he ascertained to be fact or saw or knew from his own personal knowledge. With these few remarks I beg to secoud the resolution.
Mr. EDEI did not see anything in that letter to the Press against the Board; against officers of the Board most certainly.
The PRESIDENT read the last paragraph of Mr. Danby's letter.
Mr. EDE-That is scarcely an accusation against the Board.
The ACTING CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE-I can only say these allegations were extremely felt by the police. who. I believe. have been doing their utmost to carry out their duties couscientiously in the matter and Con- stable Gourlay has asked that his conduct should be thoroughly investigated. He thinks Mr. Danby's letter has cast a slur upon his character.
16th May, 1896. Dear Sir,In reply to yours of yesterday, unless it is absolutely necessary, I would much prefer you did not publish the individual
Mr. EDE-Mr. Danby said he saw certain cascs I mentioned to you on Monday last. My things. Would it not be better to get him to olients (as is often the case with Chinese) bring up his witnesses and have the matter do not wish it. The information was given you investigated just as if it were before a Court? confidentially for what it was worth, as I told
Mr. Danby said distinctly he saw certain things you at the time, with a view to your having it
done. That was one witness, and there must verified or otherwise, which you could do in
have been other people there; the man who your position much better than any private complained nust have had servants of bis own individual. Several other and similar state-looking after his goods. They ought to cour ments were brought me yesterday (all unsolicited) respecting the rough manner in which the work is being carried out. I did all I could to induce the parties to go direct to Mr. McCallum with their complaints. They appeared to be very re- luctant to do so, however, although I told them that Mr. McCallum would do all he could to assist them if, on investigation, he found he could do so.
case.
A well known European gentleman wrote me I yesterday afternoon mentioning a asked him either to write you direct himself, or to the papers. In his reply to me he said his clients do not wish to do so." giving their reasons which I can understand, and further he goes on to say that I don't want my clients to feel that I have done them harm instead of good by telling you of their grievance." That is just the position we are iu.
་་
After I saw you 011 Monday last my intention was to let the whole matter drop altogether. After seeing, however, what I did on Wednesday afternoon and knowing the many rumours so extensively circulated in the colony I thought it best to write to the papers with a view to ventilate the whole question, well knowing that if my statements were cor rect things would be immediately rectified, and if they were wrong the public would very sona be made aware of it. In any case I hoped good would result.
The main object I bad in writing was to suggest that the goods and merchandise of these Chinese merchants and shopkeepers should be handled with a little more care and also that some reasonable time be given them to remove their own goods themselves should they wish to do so. Yours truly,
WM. DANBY. The ACTING CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF
POLICE-I beg to propose That the Colonial Secretary be requested to furnish the Board with the opinion of the legal advisers of the Crown as to whether any legal steps can be
forward and prove their case. It is the same case as is referred to in the letter which will come forward presently in regard to the claim. The PRESIDENT-There is no statement to show that this was the particular place at all.
Mr. DE He states distinctly he saw it done, and I think Mr. Danby is acting in good faith, and I should be very sarry if he
The
ACTING COLONIAL SURGEON--He certainly brings certain charges against certain
of the Board's officers.
[May 27, 1896. that argument falls entirely to the ground in view of the recent correspondence between Mr. Danby and the Secretary, who investigated the Ordinance respecting cocklofts and took the trouble to write a letter to Mr. Danby, who was wrong, and the Secretary perfectly right. This letter is dated subsequent to that letter of the Secretary, and therefore I think it might fairly be said that not only is the statement incorrect, but that a most unfair advantage has been taken of the qualified expression of Mr. McCallum made on the spot about the legality or otherwise of the cocklöfts.
Mr. EDE-I cannot think I can support a resolution like that. That letter was sent in in good faith. If a man for such a thing as this is to be called upon by the Crown Solicitor to explain his conduct we will never get any evidence at all. I am perfectly certain the thing is not altogether right. I have heard of many complaints, and I am sorry they cannot be proved or disproved; but at the same time I think people ought to be encouraged to bring these niatters to the notice of the public.
The ACTING SUPERINTEND*NT OF POLICE -I think it is a most unfortunate thing-
The PRESIDENT-Has anyone else a remark to make, because I think you had better make your reply afterwards.
There were no further remarks and the re- solution was carried Mr. Ede voted against it. The PRESIDENT-There is now the question of the reply to be sent to the Colonial Secretary. Mr. EDE quoted from the letter respecting the statement of Mr. McCallum concerning the cocklofts.
Mr. EDE-Of course if you think it is right-- The PRESIDENT-I am quite prepared to amend the letter, but I think it ought to be fairly-
Mr. EDE The rest of the statement is not correct.
The PRESIDENT-Mr. McCallum's opinion was not only qualified, but he subsequently in- formed Mr. Danby that the cocklofts were legal.
Mr. EDE-The last paragraph is a censure on Mr. Danby, which I do not approve of.
The PRESIDENT-I should like to make one. or two remarks on two or three points raised in the minutes before I put the formal resolution which I have to move. There are two distinct charges by Mr. Danby, One is that the stock- in-trade was damaged by dirty water. I must say that on reading the charge over, the lack of what I considered distinct information was so great that it was almost impracticable for this Board or any of its officers to investigate it. Apparently, as far as one can read from this letter, it refers to the whole of Bonham The Board is aware that cer. Strand. tain claims have come in respecting alleged Bonham Strand and damage to goods in the Board is also aware that its members and its officers are engaged in investigating those claims, and I think until we get definite information as to what the damage is that is alleged to have been done, also the premises on which it occurred, it is hardly of much use for the Board to occupy the time of its officers in investigating claims of such a general nature as those alleged in Mr. Danby's letter. Every person who thinks this Board has acted impro- perly and who has suffered damage can come forward and make a claim. Indeed, I may state
shes Leen done already, but the result of this investigation, pending the settlement of the claim, I do not at the present moment propose to make public. As regards the abuse which Mr. Danby says he received from P.C. 103-I am sure the Captain Superintendent of Police and the officers of this Board will be perfectly ready to inquire further into that on the receipt from Mr. Danby of the nature of the There | abuse of which he has complained.
be may
as to difference of opinion a what is abuse and there may be two sides to that question, which we can hardly decide on the general statement of abuse, and not until We are informed of the nature of the abuse complained of. As regards the incorrect ex- pression which one paragraph in the letter as drafted might convey, as Mr. Ede has pointed out, I intend to amend the paragraph as follows. [The President here read his proposed altera- tion.] There is one matter in Mr. Ede's minute about which I might also be under a wrong impression. If I understand it rightly Mr. Ede is of opinion that because a Chinese trader in this colony has come forward and made a definite complaint against an officer acting under the instructions of this Board and until further evidence is adduced, that the word of the Chinese trader should be taken: in pre- ference to that of an officer of this Board.
The PRESIDENT-Mr. Danby first observed that his object in writing to the public press in this matter was the fact that the people are not being treated the same- that they are not being treated fairly and the paragraph to which you have just referred tends to support that by stating that he, in company with yourself and the Secretary, saw certain illegal cocklofts bad not been removed, or cocklofts which he thought at the time were illegal. The whole of
Mr. EDE-I am inclined to believe the trader in this case as against the denial of the officer.
The PRESIDENT-Well, I have only to point out to the members of this Board-
Mr. EDE-Don't put it in such a general way as you did just now.
The PRESIDENT-I am perfectly-- Mr. EDE-You put it in such a way as to make it appear that I always believe a China- man before an officer of the Board. In this particular case I am disposed to believe the trader as against the other man-as against P.C. 103.
The PRISIDENT Becanse as a rule Chi- nese are unwilling to make specific complaints
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