HONGKONG.
No. 80.
10
APPENDIX B.
DOWNING STREET, 30th April, 1868.
SIR,---I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 439 of the 30th of January, respecting the regulation of Gambling Houses and the Revenue derived from them. The object of the Ordinance under which the Money in question has been obtained is the "gradual control and ultimate suppression" of these Establishments. This end must be kept steadily in view.
Your first step of regulating and licensing ought speedily to place you in full possession of the nature and extent of the gambling practised, and of the Classes who pursue it.
The next step I presume must be the organization of a trustworthy Police, sufficiently numerous to deal with this great evil which has hitherto defied your efforts to check it.
It is clear from your former Despatches that the bribery and intimidation of the Police has been the means by which your efforts have been mainly defeated. To combat these obstacles it is necessary that the Police should be too well paid to be under any great temptation to corruption, and sufficiently numerous in all its various classes to have confidence in its own strength, and to overawe the illdisposed from attempts at intimidation by the certainty of detection and punishment. And as the determined propensity of the Chinese to gambling and the Establishments which that propensity calls into existence render it necessary to maintain a Police far more expensive than would otherwise be required, I consider that the funds arising from the measures you have taken for the gradual control of the Gambling Houses by the licensing system may be properly applied to the organization and payment of that Force with which you are expected to accomplish the intention indicated in the Ordinance.-I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant,
(Signed,)
BUCKINGHAM & CHANDOS.
Governor
SIR RICHARD GRaves MacDonnell, C.B.,
11
APPENDIX D.
Comparative Statement of the Revenue from 10th October 1867 to 7th January 1868, under the "Stamp Ordinance 1866," viz., the first 90 days of its operation, and of the Receipts from 1st July to 28th September 1868, viz., the first 90 days of the operation of the “Stamp (Amendment) Ordinance 1868.”
Note. The period from 1st July to 28th September is considered to be more productive of Stamp duty than that from 10th October to 7th January, on account of its comprising part of the principal Tea season.
Revenue for Arst 90 days under "Stamp Ordinance 1866,"
$22,004.02
Revenue for Arst 90 days under "Stamp Increase of Revenuc under "Stamp(Amenri- (Amendment) Ordinance 1868." ment) Ordinance 1868" for 90 days.
† $23,219.33
Average daily Revenue under "Stamp Ordinance 1866,".
Yearly Revenue,.......
$1,215.31
244.48 365
$89,235.20
Average daily Revenue under "Stamp (Amendment)Ordinance 1868,"....$ 257.99
Yearly Revenue,
365
$94,166.35
* This includes the amount of duty on Bank Note circulation for the period stated, although under the Law of 1866 it was only collected once in Six Months.
†This includes the duty on Bank Note circulation for June, July and August,
which under the Law of 1868 is collected monthly.
The "Stamp Ordinance 1866" came into operation on the 10th October 1867, under the Proclamation dated 28th September 1867.
The "Stamp (Amendment) Ordinance 1868" came into operation on the 1st July 1868, under the Proclamation dated 23rd May 1868.
&c.,
fc.,
&c.
APPENDIX C.
COMPARATIVE QUARTERLY RETURN OF NUMBER OF CASES OF LARCENY BY SERVANTS
FROM 1865 to 1868.
GAMBLING UNLICENSED PREVIOUS TO 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1867.
GAMBLING LICENSED SUBSEQUENT TO 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1867.
1865. 1866.
1867.
löth September to Sistį
December, 1667.
1st January to 31st March, 1969.
1st April to 30th June, 1828.
Convicted,
76
58
66
Discharged,
10
17
21
TOTAL,
86
75
87
853
67
27
14
15
13
77
82
40
21
27th July, 1868.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN,
Colonial Secretary.
Comparative Statement of the Revenue from 1st April to 29th June 1868, under the "Stamp Ordinance 1866,” and of the Receipts from 1st July to 28th September 1868, under the “Stamp (Amendment) Ordinance 1868."
Revenue for 99 days under old Law from 1st April to 29th June 1808.
Revenue for 90 days under new Law from 1st July to 28th September 1868.
Increase under new Law.
Less Revenue collected
in June for items not
$26,760.25
3,974.73
liable to duty until 1st July,
$22,785.52
$23,219.33
Stamp Office, Hongkong,
28th September 1868.
$433.81
F. W. MITCHELL, Collector of Stamp Revenue,
156