4.
over their Gambling brethren. The Committee little know what a door they proposed to open to the vilest corruption and chicanery when they suggested the controlling of Gambling at Hongkong by Chinese Tithings, and Frank pledges!
19. His Excellency is unable to follow the reasoning of the Committee in the other portions of Par. 9 of their Memorial, because he can only state as the general result of the most determined efforts on the part of himself and all his subordinates, that, whatever might have been the varying nature of his expectations from time to time, he has long been convinced of the impossibility of putting down Gambling by any Police which it is possible to procure here, or even with the best Police in the world, if they could be procured, and were stationed Six Months here.
20. Sooner than recur to the infamous Past His Excellency would prefer legalising Gambling of all descriptions in the Colony, which is the only alternative that he thinks practicable, but he has steadily declined to bear a part voluntarily in continuing the sham which the Committee unwittingly recommend.
++
21. It is easy for the latter to say that the honest policy now followed detracts from
the free and noble institutions of the Colony, which were one day to stand 'as a model to work the regeneration of the Chinese Empire." Do the Committee seriously think that the shrewd natives of China respected this Government a whit more, either for its intelligence or its efficiency, when the laws of the Colony merely rendered an irrepressible vice more dangerous and odious, whilst it brought to light the venality of the paid guardians of the Law? Or do the Committee recommend that Public men instead of seeking to effect the greatest amount of good and shape their policy by what is itself right and practically most beneficial, should rather aim at a style of "ad captandum" Legislation, tinselled and varnished to catch the applause of vapid declaimers, but ill fitted to win the approval of earnest men, thoroughly understanding the question, and filled with a conscientious sense of their responsibility?
22. His Excellency has not the slightest doubt, that this Government is really more respected now, especially since none but Chinese have been permitted to enter the Licensed Houses. The natives knew long ago that the Government was unable to suppress illegal Gaming Haunts. They know now that the Government is honest enough to confess it. They also know that crime in the Colony is reduced more than a third, whilst larceny amongst servants, a crime generally traceable to Gaming losses, is 75 per cent less than it had been before the Licenses were issued.
23. The Governor further denies the existence of that "great scandal and discontent" at the Government policy, which the Committee assert to prevail "here and on the Coast of China." That policy was inaugurated with the unanimous approval of the Executive and Legislative Councils. It has been, for a series of years, a measure favored by the local experience of each Governor and his advisers. It has now been removed from the region of mere speculation and experiment, and proves that it is possible by its agency to suppress the gross evils inseparable from illegal Gambling dens of iniquity. Moreover, the "scandal and discontent" are each comparatively limited, as well in duration as extent, for, here they are chiefly but recently generated by the reaction of an agitation maintained in England by well meaning persons, ignorant of the circumstances which have produced and which justify that policy. Such ignorance is perhaps natural, but the comparisons of Hongkong with Heligoland and Baden most forcibly and aptly illustrate the unfounded inferences to which it leads.
24. Therefore unless by direct command of Her Majesty's Government, with which the responsibility of the change would then rest, His Excellency is not prepared to abandon the important results already obtained for any mere sentimental objection, or because a Revenue still irrepressibly arises from the policy, by which on the whole the greatest good can be effected. He would personally be delighted to get rid of that Revenue, if the Committee would only make some practicable suggestion enabling him to do so without sacrificing the power, which he now has, over the Licensees, and which as yet, he sees no safe means of dispensing with.
25. In conclusion I have to state that His Excellency is well aware, he had no actual claim on the Committee's attention, except to request their correction of a misstatement by them of a fact. Nevertheless, as a Member of their Association he craves indulgence for the additional remarks which he has instructed me to make on a subject of some interest to a body established to discuss the most important Social questions.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
297
4.
over their Gambling brethren. The Committee little know what a door they proposed to open to the vilest corruption and chicanery when they suggested the controlling of Gambling at Hongkong by Chinese Tithings, and Frank pledges!
19. His Excellency is unable to follow the reasoning of the Committee in the other portions of Par. 9 of their Memorial, because he can only state as the general result of the most determined efforts on the part of himself and all his subordinates, that, whatever might have been the varying nature of his expectations from tune to time, he has long been convinced of the impossibility of putting down Gambling by any Police which it is possible to procure here, or even with the best Police in the world, if they could be procured, and were stationed Six Months here.
20. Sooner than recur to the infamous Past His Excellency would prefer legalising Gambling of all descriptions in the Colony, which is the only alternative that he thinks practicable, but he has steadily declined to bear a part voluntarily in continuing the sham which the Committee unwittingly recommend.
++
21. It is easy for the latter to say that the honest policy now followed detracts from "
the free and noble institutions of the Colony, which were one day to stand 'as a model to work the regeneration of the Chinese Empire." Do the Con- mittec seriously think that the shrewd natives of China respected this Government a whit more, either for its intelligence or its efficiency, when the laws of the Colony merely rendered an irrepressible vice more dangerous and odious, whilst it brought to light the venality of the paid guardians of the Law? Or do the Committee recommend that Public men instead of seeking to effect the greatest amount of good and shape their policy by what is itself right and practically most beneficial, should rather aim at a style of "ad captandum" Legislation, tinselled and varnished to catch the applause of vapid declaimers, but ill fitted to win the approval of earnest men, thoroughly understanding the question, and filled with a conscientious sense of their responsibility?
22. His Excellency has not the slightest doubt, that this Government is really more respected now, especially since none but Chinese have been permitted to enter the Licensed Houses. The natives knew long ago that the Government was unable to suppress illegal Gaming Haunts. They know now that the Govern- ment is honest enough to confess it. They also know that crime in the Colony is reduced more than a third, whilst larceny amongst servants, a crime generally traceable to Gaming losses, is 75 per cout less than it had been before the Licenses were issued.
23. The Governor further denies the existence of that "great scandal and discontent" at the Government policy, which the Committee assert to prevail "here and on the Coast of China," That policy was inaugurated with the unanimous approval of the Executive and Legislative Councils. It has been, for a series of years, a measure favored by the local experience of each Governor and his advisers. It has now been removed from the region of mere speculation and experiment, and proves that it is possible by its agency to suppress the gross evils inseparable from illegal Gambling dens of iniquity. Moreover, the "scandal and discontent" are each comparatively limited, as well in duration as extent, for, here they are chiefly but recently generated by the reaction of an agitation maintained in England by well meaning persons, ignorant of the circumstances which have produced and which justify that policy. Such ignorance is perhaps natural, but the comparisons of Hongkong with Heligoland and Baden most forcibly and aptly illustrate the unfounded inferences to which it leads.
24. Therefore unless by direct command of Her Majesty's Government, with which the responsibility of the change would then rest, His Excellency is not
prepared to abandon the important results already obtained for any mere sentimental objection, or because a Revenue still irrepressibly arises from the policy, by which on the whole the greatest good can be effected. He would personally be delighted to get rid of that Revenue, if the Committee would only make some practicable suggestion enabling him to do so without sacrificing the power, which he now has, over the Licensees, and which as yet, he sees no safe means of dispensing with.
25. In conclusion I have to state that His Excellency is well aware, he had no actual claim on the Committee's attention, except to request their correction of a misstatement by them of a fact. Nevertheless, as a Member of their Association he craves indulgence for the additional remarks which he has instructed me to make on a subject of some interest to a body established to discuss the most important Social questions.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.
297
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