麥當奴

繁體中文

麥當奴（Richard Graves MacDonnell，1814–1881）1866年3月出任港督，上任即遇上環球金融恐慌：香港多間銀行出現擠提，放款與貿易活動明顯收縮，經濟陷入衰退，庫房收入亦大受打擊；虧蝕多年的香港鑄幣廠終在1868年關閉。為開闢財源，他於1867年推行中式賭博合法化，以發牌方式向賭館收取牌費，惟賭風隨之而來嘅貪污與治安問題引起社會強烈不滿，政策1871年被廢除。任內另一件大事係支持華人領袖籌建東華醫院，醫院1870年落成，成為華人社會自行處理醫療與慈善事務嘅基地，亦為日後東華三院嘅規模奠下基礎。他1872年離任，1881年逝世。

English

Richard Graves MacDonnell (1814–1881) took office in March 1866 just as a global financial panic hit; banks ran into runs, credit contracted and the economy slid into recession, while the loss-making Hong Kong Mint closed in 1868. To raise revenue he legalised Chinese gambling in 1867, licensing gambling houses for fees, but the vice, corruption and crime that followed provoked strong opposition and the policy was repealed in 1871. He also backed Chinese community leaders in building the Tung Wah Hospital (completed 1870), which became the base for Chinese-run medical and charitable affairs. He left office in 1872.