THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 1897. 729
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 358.
HONGKONG OPIUM FARM. ́
Notice is hereby given that Sealed Tenders will be received at the Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, till noon on Saturday, the 23rd day of October, 1897, for the purchase of the privileges known as the Opium Farm established under The Prepared Opium Ordinances 1891 to 1897, that is to say, the sole privilege of preparing Opium and of Selling, within the Colony, Opium so prepared, inclusive of the privilege of collecting dross and of preparing and dealing in dross opium, for three years from the 1st of March, 1898.
Full information as to conditions of tendering, etc. can be obtained from the Colonial Treasurer.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 4th September, 1897.
Conditions of Tendering.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
1. No tender will be received unless the tenderer produces a receipt from the Treasurer for-
(i.) A deposit of $30,000, or of Title Deeds, or other approved securities to a like amount,
and
(ii.) A stamped agreement to be executed by him on a form provided by the Treasurer,
to the effect that, if he should decline to accept a grant of the Farm on the terms of the tender sent in by him, such deposit or securities shall be forfeited to the Crown.
Such deposit must be completed not later than Noon on the 22nd of October. All deposits will be returned to unsuccessful tenderers.
2. The tender must state the monthly sum offered for the Farm as rent.
3. The Government does not bind itself to accept the highest or any tender.
4. The successful tenderer shall deposit with the Treasurer security, either money or title deeds, to the value of three months' rent of the Farm for the due performance of the conditions on which the privilege is granted and of the stipulations or agreement in respect thereof, and the security previously deposited with the Treasurer on the tender being received will be retained until such successful tenderer shall have deposited such security.
5. The Governor in Council will execute to the accepted Tenderer a Grant in the form, or as near thereto as may be, hereinafter set out.
6. During the continuance of the privileges the successful tenderer shall be entitled to the use of a trade mark to be approved by the Governor in Council on all Opium prepared by him.
Conditions to be fulfilled by the Grantee of the Opium Farm, and the breach of which will involve liability to the forfeiture of the Grant and of the security deposited with the Treasurer.
(1) The payment of the monthly fee regularly in advance, from the 1st day of March, 1898. (2) To have no Opium in possession except what is reported through the Imports and Exports Office; and, unless the special permission of the Governor to exceed that amount is obtained, to draw not more than 300 chests in any two consecutive months, of which not more than 175 chests are to be drawn in any one month.
(3) Not to part with any Opium in the raw state either by sale or otherwise, but only prepared Opium fit for smoking.
(4) Not to grant to any person any licence to boil or prepare Opium.
(5) To have such establishments only for boiling as may be approved by the Governor.
(6) Not to have loose Opium (as defined by The Raw Opium Amendment. Ordinance, 1891,) elsewhere than in his boiling establishments.
(7) To supply the licensees of Opium Divans, duly licensed by the Colonial Secretary under Ordinance No. 15 of 1897, with any Opium and dross Opium required by them, at rates not exceeding the market rates at the time.