CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2] — Page 208

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

I submitted the question to the late Acting Attorney General, and enclose a copy of his letter recommending that gambling houses be licensed by Law.

As regards China, the universality of the habit of gambling, notwithstanding severe interdictions and menaced punishment, is a matter of notoriety. It pervades every order of society, from the highest to the lowest,- gamblers and gambling establishments are seen in every street, - sometimes interference and the severe penalties of the law are enforced, - but the chronic disease is not in the slightest degree mitigated. It stands in the same Category as Opium smoking, and defies all prohibitory legislation. As for what I have been able to gather the opinions of sensible Chinese, they would greatly prefer the legalization and control of the habit, to the general demoralization which is the consequence of the impotence, or rather the confederation of the Police.

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I beg to call your attention to the 15 Opinions expressed by the Lieutenant Governor, whose long residence and position in the Colony, and the circumstance of his having discharged important functions in several departments, must give authority to his views. I submitted the question to the late Acting Attorney General, and enclose a copy of his letter recommending that gambling houses be licensed by Law. As regards China, the universality of the habit of gambling, notwithstanding severe interdictions and menaced punishment, is a matter of notoriety. It pervades every order of society, from the highest to the lowest,- gamblers and gambling establishments are seen in every street, - sometimes interference and the severe penalties of the law are enforced, - but the chronic disease is not in the slightest degree mitigated. It stands in the same Category as Opium smoking, and defies all prohibitory legislation. As for what I have been able to gather the opinions of sensible Chinese, they would greatly prefer the legalization and control of the habit, to the general demoralization which is the consequence of the impotence, or rather the confederation of the Police. Page 203

Baseline (Original)

I beg to call your attention to the 15 Opinions expressed by the Lieutenant Governm, whose long residence and position in the Colony, and the circumstance of his having discharged important functions in several departments, must his views. give authority to I submitted the question to the late Acting Attorney General, and copy of his letter recommending enclose copy of that gambling houses be licensed by Law. As regard China, the universality of the habit of gambling, notwithstanding severe interdictions and menaced punishment, is a matter of notoriety. now and then there is - 203 It pervades every order of society, from the highest to the lowest,- gamblers and gambling establishments are seen in every strect, - now interference and the severe penalties of the law are enforced, - but tú chronie disease is not in the slightest degree mitigated. It stand in the same Category as Opium émoking, and defics all prohibitory legislation. As for I have been able to gather the opinions Cus of sensible chinese, they would greatly prefer the legalization and control of the habit, to the general demoralization which is the consequence of the impotence, or rather the confederation of the Police.

2026-05-18 00:43:47 · Baseline

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I beg to call

your

attention to the

Opinions expressed by the Lieutenant Governm, whose long residence and

position in the Colony, and the circumstance of his having discharged important functions in several departments, must

his views.

give authority to

I submitted the question to the late Acting Attorney General, and

copy of his letter recommending

enclose copy of

that gambling houses be licensed by

Law.

As regard China, the universality

of the habit of gambling, notwithstanding

severe interdictions and menaced

punishment, is a matter of notoriety.

now and then there is

203

It pervades every order of society, from the highest to the lowest,- gamblers and gambling establishments are seen in every strect, - now interference and the severe penalties of the law are enforced, - but tú chronie disease is not in the slightest degree mitigated. It stand in the same Category

as Opium émoking, and defics all prohibitory legislation. As for I have been able to gather the opinions

Cus

of sensible chinese, they would greatly prefer the legalization and control of the habit, to the general demoralization which is the consequence of the

CO129-054 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [1-2] — Page 208

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