Page:Europe in China.djvu/458

440 sold by auction (January 12, 1871) for $15,000 a month. But this roused the community to make a new effort. Believing that licensed gambling was affecting the Colony injuriously, that none of the boasted decrease of crime was attributable to the licensing system, and that the Police Force was quite competent to repress gambling so far that it could only be carried on in secret haunts, but ignoring the corruption of the police arising from such action, the Chamber of Commerce sent in a Memorial to the Secretary of State (January 10, 1871) praying that the licensing system be discontinued. In addition to this official document, signed by the Chairman (Ph. Ryrie), Vice-Chairman (A. Limeneen) and Secretary (N. Blakeman) and endorsed by 40 Members, Dr. Legge and Mr. David Welsh presented a further Memorial, bearing 316 signatures and representing every class of society, to express the community's protest against Sir Richard's scheme. Even the Chinese community, well knowing that the Registrar General (C. C. Smith) was the strongest supporter and defender of the system, presented him with a Memorial strongly condemning it. These popular demonstrations were immediately followed up by the Chief Justice with a judicial declaration (February, 1871) to the effect that, in the absence of a special Ordinance, the licensing of gaming houses in the Colony was illegal. More effectual was a renewal of the agitation in England, when the House of Commons, at the motion of Mr. Bowring, asked (March 31, 1871) for the production of further documents on the gambling house licensing system, which were accordingly published (July 24, 1871). To all the Memorials of the people of Hongkong the Earl of Kimberley returned the laconic reply that, on the return of Sir R. MacDonnell to the Colony, instructions would be given him to consider the whole matter with a view to the termination of the system of licensing gaming houses. Sir Richard's fight was over. The battle was lost. But, though the system was abandoned immediately after the Governor's return (December 8, 1871), no positive gain resulted from the abolition of the gaming houses. Gambling and police corruption continued thenceforth unchecked.