CO129-128 - Public Offices & Others - 1867 — Page 719

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16. He believes that under the new policy there will be mor Gaming, but by removal of its illegality, the consequences will

far less pernicious to individuals or the Public than its preser more limited practics. His opinion on the probabilities of case is at least founded on information as accurate and extensivi as yours-though it may not be so offensively or illscourteous} expressed as in some of your recent publicatione.

17.-One system has been tried and failed. Therefore another i now about to be tried. Should it also fail the Governor has reserved. complete powers to terminate the experiment at a moment's notice 18.-Finally His Excellency desires me to add that he does not believe there is any individual amongst you so reluctant personally as he is himself, to introduce a system, the object of which it is so easy for irresponsible declaimers to misrepresent in general appeals to morality, for which there will ever be a ready audience, too indulgent to suspect that the morality advocated is but a lazy acquiescence in the same vicc under more revolting and dangerous conditions.

19.-Argument would be useless with those who can see no differ- ence between the special and exceptional circumstances of Hong kong and Heligoland. What might be an unjustifiable Policy in England, or in a Colony inhabited by a European race with an efficient Police, may be, in the cause of order and general security, an absolute necessity in a small Community of 2,000 Foreigners amongst 130,000 Chinese, whoso co-operation in the suppression of illegal Gambling, the source of so much crime, can only be ex pected, by giving them an interest in limiting its practice to a few fixed places under Government surveillance.

I have the honor to be,

Gentlemen,

Your most obedient servant,

(Signed) CECIL C. SMITH,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

COMMENTS UPON HIS EXCELLENCY'S REPLY.

(1) The careful reader will observe that Sir Richard finds the major part of the objections of the six pro- testants quite unauswerable. This inability to reply

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is partially veiled by the use of sarcasm, by accusa- tions that the Missionaries "azily acquiesce" in this

e of the Chinese, by a charge of "offensiveness and discourtesy."

(2) This latter charge is brought against letters published in the local newspapers by Messrs. Morris and Turner; which letters the other four gentlemen did not see until after their publication. The two gentlemen certainly complained in strong even vehe- ment language, little likely to be pleasing to Sir Ri. chard, of the immorality of this scheme; of the re proach brought thereby on our country, and our re- Egion; and of the government's making a secret of its intention. These charges are all substantially embodied in the above joint protest.

(3) It will be noticed that Sir Richard does not attempt to reply to objections 3, 4 and 5; and that objection 2 he in effect admits.

(4) No imputation of sordid motives has been made. Not the motives, but the acts of the government have been criticized. The facts are these: There is an acknowledged deficit of $120,000 in the revenue. To supply this the Stamp Ordinance was passed, which ordinance the Governor could put in force at any moment if he pleased. He prefers to hold this in abeyance, and to supply the necessities of the colonial reasury by a sum (say $250,000) derived from garn. ling house licenses.

(5) A great part of the Governor's letter is devo- ed to an attempted refutation of the charge of intro. ucing this measure in an underhand and un-English way. The failure of this attempt is evident enough. Sir Richard contends that the order and cleanliness Ordinance was publicly introduced last year.

But

ac complaint is that this Ordinance contains nothing

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