to induce
many
to sign
who
could not or who would not exercise
independent opinion in the
matter.
With regard
to the
Draft
Mr. John, 2 July; In Wingfield, 2
Akuy
12626
No. 148
Downing Street,
3 July
189 f.
signatures of the gentlemen on the first page of the petition, it is notorious that most of them belong to what has been styled "The Chinese Gambling aristocracy" of Hongkong and are in the habit of playing for very high
stakes in the so-called 'Chinese
and
Clubs, which exist almost entirely for the purpose of gambling, not for the purposes of other
recreations, and which have
increased in number from 200 to 500 within the short period of
two years.
St. S. Lockhart,
Registrar General.
+January, 1871.
134602192
3.22484
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty will not
be advised to exercise her power of disallowance with respect to the
Ordinance, No. 7
of 1897
of the Legislature
entitled
"The Gambling Ordinance, 22, 1897"
of 19th May last.
A transcript of which accompanied your despatch
No.
158
of
I shall be glad to receive a report upon its working after it has been in force
for a year.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
The Officer administering
the Government of
Hongkong