CO129-128 - Public Offices & Others - 1867 — Page 716

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grity we do not see why the Government should shrink from areem- ing the largest sums which it may be worth the while of gambling- house keepers to pay. There is no possibility of supposing that they will be any more lenient to the gamblers, as it were, on account the refusal of the Government to take more than a limited surn. The difference will simply go into their pockets, and even if this were not so, the Government would hardly wish to inaugurate a system whick by offering exceptional advantages to the gambler greater than those held out to him elsewhere, would make Hongkong the chosen resort of gamblers for the whole province. It may seem shocking to many honest and creditable prejudices,-the idea of thus assimilating the institutions of Hongkong, in one respect to those of Macao, but legislation cannot be ruled by vague sentimentalities of this description. As the arrangements for carrying out the new policy advance towards completion, there will be no doubt a great deal to say about them, but for the present dealing with the broad principles of this great and comprehensive change, we need not do more than express a conviction that a wise and sound policy has been adopted, which by mcuncing law with common sense will have a tendency to diminish crime, not will simplify the task of governing this anomalous community in a great variety of ways.

(Nora A) It appears an indisputable inference from this article that, prior to its publication, the intention of the government to license public gambling houses had been kept a complete secret from the public of Hongkong.

(NOTE B) Also that the editor of the Daily Pross had received private information of this intention, emanating from some government source.

(Nork C) The intention of the local government to license gambling houses in Hongkong, was therefore not made public until about twelve months after the ordinance, by which this power is conferred upon the government, was first introduced into the Legislative Council,

(NOTE D) Through this reticence on the part of the local government, ratification of their policy was obtained from the Home Government, before the

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public in Hongkong had the slightest suspicion of what was going on. All opportunity of petition to

Secretary of State to prevent this measure be. coming law has thus been denied to Her Majesty's

bjects resident in Hongkong.

After their attention had been drawn to the start- ling fact, that the local government had resolved to establish licensed public gambling houses, three re- dent missionaries waited upon Sir Richard MacDon. ell to remonstrate with him upon the serious injury this proceeding would inflict upon the moral welfare of the Chinese population and the disgrace which would be brought upon the British and the Christian thereby. This interview they followed up by a letter embodying their protest against the scheme. This letter, with His Excellency's reply, we now re- print.

same

The Reverend Charles F. Warren and Others to flie fixcellency Sir Richard Graves MacDonnel, C.B., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Hony- kong.

LONDON MISSION HOUSE, Hongkong, 24th July, 1867.

SIR, After the recent interview of Messrs. WARREN, MORRIS, and TURNER, with Your Excellency, when you were so good as to listen to some arguments against the proposed system of licensing Gam- bling Houses in this Colorry, and you intimated your intention of putting that system into operation; we desire respectfully to lay before Your Excellency the following objections, to which we venture to beg your earnest consideration.

We object to, and feel in conscience bound to protest against, this sheme, for the following reasons :-----

1.Because it has been introduced in an uuderhand and un- English way.

It is included in an Ordinance for the Maintenance of Order auti Cleanliness," a title under which no one would look for such a measure.