9.
GAMBLING.
133
There has been no recrudescence of gambling in illegal gaming houses during the year. Three important seizures in connection with lotteries were made.
In the first case five persons were arrested on the premises used as a branch office for a Wai Sing Lottery which bas its principal office in Macao. Lottery tickets to the value of over $2,000 were found on the premises. Three of the prisoners pleaded guilty and were each fined $500 and sentenced to six months' imprisonment in default.
In the second case, which was of a precisely similar nature, the lottery being really conducted from Macao, five persons were arrested. In the result after appeal to the Supreme Court one was fined $1,000 or six months' imprisonment in default, and over $1,100 in money seized on the premises was confiscated.
A lottery called the Tai Yik was instituted here soon after the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, to take the place of the Manila lottery which was necessarily suspended during the hostilities there. A successful raid was made on the offices of the lottery and eight persons were arrested and upwards of $7,000 in cash was seized. Three of those arrested were convicted and fined $1,000 each. The money was not legally liable to confiscation..
10.
DRUNKENNESS.
The number of cases for the year was only 29 in excess of the preceding year's low record. There are in the Colony 22 houses which are licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor on the premises. One licensee was convicted of selling adulterated liquor.
The houses were conducted in an orderly manner during the year.
11.
PROSTITUTION.
The indiscriminate opening of brothels in respectable quarters of the city is still a source of com- plaint, and Chinese householders are as averse as in the past to protect themselves by recourse to legal proceedings.
12.
STOLEN PROPERTY RECOVERED.
The value of property reported stolen during the year was $43,089.76, or nearly $10,000 less than during the preceding year.
The value of that recovered by Police and restored to owners was $4,245.03.
13.
LOST PROPERTY.
The following is a return showing property lost and recovered during 1898 :--
Articles Lost,
Value Lost.
Articles recovered and articles found which were not reported lost.
Value Found.
14.
174
$8,574.86
LICENCES.
154
The following licences were issued by this Departinent during the year:-
15.
500 Hongkong Jinrickshas.
60 Kowloon
25 Quarry Bay
**
"
1,041 Private Vehicles.
492 Hongkong Chairs.
42 Hill District Chairs.
7 Garis.
8,232 Drivers and Bearers.
DOGS ORDINANCE.
1,819 dogs were licensed,
16 watch dogs were licensed. 105 dogs were destroyed.
25 dogs were restored to owners.
2 dogs were ransomed.
$963.54