about licensing gambling, nor would it suggest the idea that such a scheme was contemplated. He says that this intention was published on the 17th June of this year. Thus our charge is established: for before that date the Governor had by private cor respondence, obtained the desired ratification from the Home Government. The history of this measure extracted from the colonial newspapers, is given length and without reservation at the commencement of this pamphlet. Immediately upon this measur being made public this year, a protest was made against it. Such protest would assuredly have been made last year had the government scheme best known to the public then. That not a word of op position was breathed from any quarter is conclusive proof that the project was kept seret.
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crime wherein nine-tenths of the burglaries and daring erimes are planned.
Undoubtedly there is a certain amount of illegal gambling always going on. That gambling is a fruit- fal soure of crime is one of our arguments against the licensing system. Sir Richard admits that gam- bling will be increased under the proposed system. Therefore the crimes committed by impoverished gamblers will increase also. There is a natural and necessary connection between the two.
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There is not, however, any natural and necessary connection between gambling houses and the lairs of criminals. If the criminal class can no longer asset- ble in gambling houses, they will find secrot haunts elsewhere. Sir Richard will but "change the place and keep the pain."
Any one unacquainted with the state of Hongkong might be led by Sir Richard's remarks, to suppose that the Colony was driven by dire necessity to un- usual measures of self defence against robbers and. burglars. But the public here generally admits that
If corroboration were needed, section 9 of the Governor's reply furnishes a convincing proof. There Sir Richard states "at least all the non-official mer bare of the council, so far back as the passing of the Ordinance last year were well acquainted with and entirely approved of the alternative given to the EHongkong was never so free from these cries as ecutive.' From this it appears that the Govern cannot venture to assert that at the gembers Council knew of this scheme last year. All the nor official members knew it. But surely had it been mado public in the Legislative Council, all the official members, and the reporters of the press, must ha had equal opportunity of knowledge with Mess Whittall, Dent and Gibb.
(6) His Excellency's arguments in favour of licér ing are three-
There are gangs of illegal gamblors who rese to secret lairs which are the schools and nurser
within the last few months. This is owing doubtless. to the energetic administration of the present Gov. ernor, to the wise regulations he has introduced for the Registration of the Chinese, and to the severe but salutary treatment of convicted criminals. Bor- glary, garrotting and other crimes have been commit. ted even in London. They are certainly not so much more frequent in Hongkong as to justify such au extraordinary preventive measure as the licensing of public gambling houses.
II-His Excellency's second argument is that the gambling house keepers will prove valuable assistants to the police in putting down illegal gambling.