The clause affecting Gambling is worded ambiguously; but any plain honest man would interpret it as meaning the very contrary to licensing the evil. It looks as if every care had been taken to blindfold the public on this subject. There has been no opportunity of eliciting public opinion here; no opportunity of memorialising the Home Government in opposition to it.
2. Because licensing Gambling Houses will certainly lead to a large increase of Gambling.
The fear of the law, which is now a partial check, will be removed. The publicity of the licensed Houses will ensnare many, who do not now go out of their way to search for them. Sailors, and other Europeans will be tempted into them. The proprietors will surround the "hells" with every attraction. But argument is needless here. The bare mention of the vast sum offered, and, it is said, accepted for the license, indicates an immense increase of Gambling.
3. Because licensing Gambling Houses will never lead to the "ultimate suppression" of the vice.
To pretend the contrary would be the most barefaced hypocrisy. Every one who argues for the licensing, Your Excellency included, does so on the ground that repression is hopeless. The licensing will bring a large Revenue which the Government will not easily resign. But at any time the Government does withdraw the licenses, the illegal Gambling will then be harder to put down than now. By your own Ordinance, Your Excellency is pledged to aim at the "ultimate suppression" of Gambling!
4.--We believe that a large proportion of the Chinese population of this place are opposed to this measure. Its introduction will have a seriously demoralising effect on the Chinese resident in the Colony.
5.--Gambling is at present equally illegal by British and by Chinese law, in every part of the two Empires. Only last year the Governor of Canton took stringent measures for the suppression of Gambling in that City. The proposed measure will degrade both our civilization and our Christianity in the eyes of the Chinese people.
6. We believe that the Government has no right to countenance and sanction vice,
By licensing Gambling Houses the Government will not only do this, but will actually protect and patronise that class of sharpers who make Gambling their regular profession, and live by preying on the community, and (which is still worse) will itself take a share of their ill-gotten gains.
For the above reasons we are compelled, though with much personal reluctance, to enter our solemn protest against this proceeding. We again thank Your Excellency for the patient hearing you gave to arguments opposed to your policy; and are sorry to be constrained to announce to you, that we cannot but take every possible measure, both here and in England, to obtain the reversal of this scheme.
We are, with great respect,
Your Excellency's
Obedient humble Servants,
(Signed,) CHARLES F. WARREN, C.M.G.
JOHN PIPER.
RUDOLPH LECKLER.
DAVID B. MORRIS.
JACOB LOERCHER.
F. S. TURNER.
Page 11
The Honorable Cecil C. Smith, Acting Colonial Secretary, to Reverend Charles J. Warren and Others.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 27th July, 1867.
GENTLEMEN,-
1.--I am instructed by His Excellency Sir RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL to say that pressure of business has prevented his earlier acknowledging receipt of your letter of the 24th instant.
2.--His Excellency is obliged to you for bringing before him once more your reasons for condemning the policy of licensing Gambling Houses in this Colony. At the same time he cannot help remembering that Three of your number, at a recent interview, quite failed to give any satisfactory answer to his arguments in favor of that policy, and appeared entirely unprepared with any suggestions to meet acknowledged existing evils.
3.--The Governor does not feel called on again to discuss the question at length, but is bound to give a direct denial of your assertion that the measure has been introduced in an underhand and un-English way." Such a statement is as untrue as it is unreasonable to assert that a Law for the "maintenance of Order" is a title under which no one would look for such a measure" ---i.e. for a measure designed to suppress illegal Gambling, the present most fruitful source of disorders in the Colony.
4.--The Ordinance No. 8 of last year was introduced publicly in Council, discussed publicly before Reporters of the Press and contained the very same words as the amended Ordinance passed on the 17th of last month, viz: "to frame such Rules and Regu-
Page 782
10
The clause affecting Gambling is worded ambiguously; but any plain houest man would interpret it as meaning the very contrary to licensing the evil. It looks as if every care had been taken to blind- fold the public on this subject. There has been no opportunity of eliriting public opinion here; no opportunity of memorialising the Home Government in opposition to it.
2. Because licensing Gambling Houses will certainly lead to a large increase of Gambling.
The fear of the law, which is now a partial check, will be removed. The publicity of the licensed Houses will ensnare many, who do not now go out of their way to search for them. Sailors, and other Europeans will bo terrpted into them. The proprietors will surround the "hells" with every attraction. But argument is needless here. The bare mention of the vast som offered, and, it is said, acceptod for the license, indicates an impoense increase of Gambling.
3. Because licensing Gambling Houses will never lead to the "ultimate suppression" of the vice.
To pretend the contrary would be the most barefaced hypocrisy. Every one who argues for the licensing, Your Excellency included, does so on the ground that ppression is hopeless. The licensing will bring a large Revenue which the Government will not easily resign. But at any time the Govern:nent does withdraw the licenses, the illegal Gambling will then be harder to put down than Yot by your own Ordinance, Your Excellency is pledged to aim at the "ultinuate suppression" of Gambling!
*eter.
4.--We believe that a large proportion of the Chinese population of this place are opposed to this measure. Ita introduction will have a seriously dermoralising effect on the Chinese resident in the Colony. 5.--Gambling is at present equally illegal by British and by Chinese law, in every part of the two Empires. Only last year the Governor of Cantou took stringent measures for the suppression of Gambling in that City. The proposed measure will degrade both our civilization and our Christianity in the eyes of the Chinese people. 6. We believe that the Government has no right to countenance and sanction vice,
By licensing Gambling Houses the Goverment will not only do this, but will actually protect and patronise that class of sharpers who make Gambling their regular profession, and live by preying on the community, and (which is still worse) will itself take a share of their ill-gotten gains.
For the above reasons we are compelled, though with much personal reluctance, to enter our solenm protest against this proceed- ing. We again thank Your Excellency for the patient hearing you
11
gave to arguments opposed to your policy; and are sorry to be constrained to announce to you, that we cannot but take every possi- ble measure, both here and in England, to obtain the reversal of this scheme.
We are, with great respect,
Your Excellency's
Obedient humble Servants,
(Signed,) CHARLES F. WARREN, C.M..
وو
ور
JOHN PIPER.
RUDOLPH LECKLER.
DAVID B. MORRIS.
JACOB LOERCHER.
3
>>
F. S. TURNER.
The Honorable Ceoil C. Smith, Acting Colonial Becretary, to Reverend
Charles J. Warren and Others.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 27th July, 1867. GENTLEMEN,-1,-I am instructed by His Excellency Six RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL to say that pressure of busi- ness has prevented his earlier acknowledging receipt of your letter of the 24th instant.
2.-His Excellency is obliged to you for bringing before him once more your reasons for condemning the policy of licensing Gambling Houses in this Colony. At the same time he cannot help remembering that Three of your number, at a recent inter- view, quite failed to give any satisfactory answer'to hislarguments in favor of that policy, and appeared entirely unprepared with any suggestions to meet acknowledged existing evils.
3.--The Governor does not feel called on again to discuss the question at length, but is bound to give a direct denial of your assertion that the measure has been introduced in an underhand and un-English way." Sach a statement is as untrue as it is unreasonable to assert that a Law for the " maintenance of Order" is a title under which no one would look for such a measure" ---i.e. for a measure designed to suppress illegal Gambling, the present most fruitful source of disorders in the Colony.
4.--The Ordinance No. 8 of last year was introduced publicly in Council, discussed publicly before Reporters of the Press and contained the very same words as the amended Ordinance passed on the 17th of last month, viz: "to frame such Rules and Regu-
782
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