CO129-128 - Public Offices & Others - 1867 — Page 579

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THE NEW ORDINANCES. The New Ordinances were then read a first They were:

The Estimate for 1867.

The Harbour and Coasts Ordinance.

The Registration Ordinance.

The Piracy Court Ordinance.

nance.

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It does not appear that the Governor gave any ex- timeplanation of the intent of this clause or that it attract- el attention in the Council, or elsewhere, at this time. The following extract from the leading article of the Trening Mail of 28th July, 1866 will show that there was no suspicion in the Colony that the clause was famed to confer upon the Governor power to introduce so remarkable an innovation as licensing gambling

this colony.

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it may be confidently supposed that the texts of the other Crdinances respecting the "Registration" and Order and cleanliness of the native section of the in- habitants will prove equally satisfactory,"

The Order and Cleanliness Ordinance. The Vacation of the Supreme Court Ordi.

"It has seldom happened that any Ordinances have (See "Evening Mail" July 26, 1867.) Loen promulgated in this Colony which have given sach universal satisfaction as those read on Wednes- The Ordinance for the Maintainance of Order and day last at the meeting of the Legislative Council. Cleanliness, was of a miscellaneous character; giving The Colony at large and the local press, as echoing power to the Governor to pay Rewards to the Police its opinions are unanimous in praising the compre- and to Informers; providing that Juvenile Offenders hensiveness of the scheme embodied in the new regu should be privately whipped in certain cases; pro-lations respecting piracy (Harbour and Coasts Ordi. hibiting the keeping of Pigs within the city of Victonance) and the Registration of native vessels; while ria, &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 Pre- vention, and it is expedient to devise and adopt further measures for the gradual Control and ultimate Sup. pression 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 Limi tation 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 (aud 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 Conneil or outside of it, during the whole of 1866 and late date in 1867.

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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