2. I will refer first to the gambling question; on which in Hong Kong I have had some talk with Mr O'Malley whose views appear to be
1. That little
The fact is that gambling is done by gambling my Royal Hong Kong & amounts gambled for being small 2. That gambling is so inherent in the Chinese nature that it is almost impossible to stop it.
3. That it would not be deniable to license it, but that
Hennessy's order of 1889 should be carried a little further, that, while the law was to refrain from interfering with gambling so long as it led to no disturbance of the peace or other evil consequences.
It is the corruption of the Police, which has led to the call of the Royal Hong Kong Committee & the Hong Kong Straits Commission, which latter has still to make its report. In both cases, there is a good deal of difference of opinion, but wither opponents or those who are in favour of putting down gambling insist that much severer measures than in Hong Kong should be taken to suppress it. If public gambling houses were suffered in Hong Kong I fancy difficulties would arise as to the Clubs; and I would suggest that, as soon as the Police Report is received, it might perhaps be advisable to have a Committee composed of officials & Hong Kong officials