The New Ordinances.
The Estimate for 1867.
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It does not appear that the Governor gave any explanation of the intent of this clause or that it attracted attention in the Council, or elsewhere, at this time. They were:
The Harbour and Coasts Ordinance.
The Registration Ordinance.
The Piracy Court Ordinance.
The Order and Cleanliness Ordinance.
The Vacation of the Supreme Court Ordinance.
(See "Evening Mail" July 26, 1867.)
The following extract from the leading article of the "Frey Mail" of 28th July, 1866 will show that there was no suspicion in the Colony that the clause was framed to confer upon the Governor power to introduce so remarkable an innovation as licensing gambling in this colony.
"It has seldom happened that any Ordinances have been promulgated in this Colony which have given such universal satisfaction as those read on Wednesday last at the meeting of the Legislative Council. The Colony at large and the local press, as echoing its opinions, are unanimous in praising the comprehensiveness of the scheme embodied in the new regulations respecting piracy (Harbour and Coasts Ordinance) and the Registration of native vessels; while it may be confidently supposed that the texts of the other Ordinances respecting the 'Registration' and Order and cleanliness of the native section of the inhabitants will prove equally satisfactory."
The Ordinance for the Maintenance of Order and Cleanliness, was of a miscellaneous character; giving power to the Governor to pay Rewards to the Police and to Informers; providing that Juvenile Offenders should be privately whipped in certain cases; prohibiting the keeping of Pigs within the city of Victoria, &c., &c., &c. Towards its close the following very important clause relative to Gambling is found, viz:--
"And whereas the Evils of Gambling in the Colony are found to be on the increase notwithstanding the application of the Penal Laws in force for their Prevention, and it is expedient to devise and adopt further measures for the gradual Control and ultimate Suppression thereof; Be it therefore enacted that it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time to frame and pass such Rules, Regulations and Conditions as may be deemed expedient for the total Suppression or in the meanwhile for the better Limitation and Control of Gambling in this Colony, with Power from time to time to alter and amend such Rules and Regulations or repeal the same or any part thereof."
At this time (and until Dec. 3 when one ceased to exist) there were three daily newspapers in Hong-Kong, all of which were represented by Reporters in the Legislative Council room.
But after careful search no trace can be found of any reference having been made to the government intention to license gambling, either in reports of the meetings of Council or outside of it, during the whole of 1866 and up to a late date in 1867.
In the spring of this year, a rumour was abroad that the government meant to introduce some new legislation respecting gambling as appears by the
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