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would exert himself personally to obtain the use of that money for the colony. Never- theless that point was one of detail, and not of principle. If it were the only difficulty the money could be thrown into the sea, and the question be this disembarrassed of this inci- dental difficulty. The amount ebarged which had already fallen to about $14,000 a month, he thought might eventually be reduced to $10,000. That sum might possibly be sufficient to secure the zealous co-operation on the part of the license holders essential to ensure fair profits, and render their establishments more efficient for police purposes. On the whole he was fully convinced that the system had diuin- ished cringe, while there was no room at all for doubt that it had increased the efficiency of the police, by ruining the chief cle- ment of corruption. That, increover, the opinion of the Chinese themselves. When he had lately received a number of respectable Chinese residents to confer with bim as to the Kidnapping Ordinance, the subject of gambling had then arisen, and they all ad- mittedthegeneral diminution of crime, neverthe- less some of them had declared themselves desirous that the recent legislation should be done away with. It was some time before he could reconcile this work with the admission they had previously made till, he found that they shrank from the responsibility thrown upon them by the Registration Ordinance, which compelled them to take care that the houses of which they were owners should not be couverted into gambling houses or houses of ill-fame. He had told them that they certainly must not ex- pect to see that arrangement modified in any case. These discursive remarks, however, the Governor said, hal better come to an end, though the statement which he had been led by Mr. Keswick's question into making would pro- bably be not without interest to the community. The CHIEF JUSTICE asked what was the total amount of the sums which had accumulated under the gambling licenses.
The GOVERNOR said about $135,000. Mr. RYRIE asked if the Governor thought it likely that the keepers of the houses really would exclude respectable persone,
The GOVERNOR thought that very likely persons of such respectability, as, for instance, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. would be able to gain admittance, but the upper class of Chinese servants would certainly find it necessary to go to their own clubs:
Mr. RYRIE said these measures were not found necessary in other large Eastern cities.
JUDGE BALL said that there could be no doubt about the fact that crime bad diminished in this colony.
The CHIEF JUSTICE corroborated this. Mr. RYRIE asked whether it could not be at- tributed to something else than the gambling- bouses.
The CHIEF JUSTICE Said that the depression of trade would naturally have the effect of in- oreasing crime. What did Mr. Ryrie allude to ?
Mr. RYRIE would not pretend to find an ex- * planation himself
The GOVERNOR said that if anyone liked to bring forward a motion to test the opinion of the Council on this subject, he would have no objection, if it could be done consistently with the Rules which governed their proceedings as a Legislative body. The Council he was sure was not a body which would form an opinion hastily without taking trouble and ascertaining facts.
Mr. BERIE thought there must be some other means of stopping crime; other Governmenta did not find it necessary to resort to this ex- pedient.
The GOVERNOR said that the circumstances of Hougkong were altogether peculiar. We must adapt ourselves to circumstances, if we cannot bend them to our will, and most un- questionably such a policy would in Europe be wholly unjustifiable.
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