Page:Crime and government at Hong Kong.pdf/102

 document; nor could any one say who were Lum-ateen, Chun-alai, and Chun-atsoo—names which Mr. Gilmour said had been spelt over to him by Mr. Caldwell. * * *  *

The debate that day, the 14th, closed with a renewed expression, by the Governor and Dr. Bridges, of their high appreciation of Mr. Caldwell's conduct, in the face of this evidence, and I have not heard that Mr. Caldwell had attempted any further explanation. I have already put in the strong testimonial contained in Dr. Bridges's letter of the 17th, which I take to be a further judgment upon this complaint. I have therefore a right to say, that the charges now under investigation, have been already disposed of by the Executive Council.

Even if the suggestion that there had been any mistake in the matter had not, under the above circumstances, already been proved to be false, I might point out to the Commissioners that it is on the face of it ridiculous and absurd, inasmuch as it is the daily and immediate duty of the Registrar General, by Section 5 of the Ordinance which gives him power to register Brothels, not only to ascertain correctly the actual state of their title and occupancy, but to record those particulars on the spot, and communicate the same to the Colonial Secretary. The Section requires, that in those records shall appear the names of the immediate Landlord or Lessor of the licensed brothel, and also of the Crown Lessee or Tenant of the plot of ground on which the same may be standing or built; and this is for the purpose of the speedy and summary conviction of these persons, whether they are the immediate offenders or not against the Ordinance.

The evidence of one of the Commissioners, who was also a member of the Legislative Council, and present on both days, confirms this statement of the result of the discussion.

It further confirms me as to another important fact, which I had stated in my official correspondence; but not wishing to do more than was necessary to the matter then in hand, I did not give in evidence before the Commission.

That evidence is as follows: —