Browne, JG.
12.
6. Patent-still spirit from the China Sugar Refinery, and the Chinese liquors known as samshu are the only liquors manufactured in Hongkong. The former is of good quality, and the composition of the principal Chinese liquors-Leu Pun Chau, Sheung AppendChing Chau, and Sam Ching Chau-together with the knowledge from inspection that only sound materials are used in the samshu distilleries, is sufficient to justify our opinion that the effect of drinking these Chinese liquors is practically the same as that produced by whiskey of the same strength. The high proportion of compound ethers in samshu will afford a means of ascertaining its presence in liquors should it be suspected from its odour. Although samshu is the national drink of the Chinese, drunkenness amongst them is conspicuons by its absence.
Browne, 19.
May, 2 et seq.
7. It appears that a few years ago it was customary for beach-combers to frequent a place at the corner of Upper Lascar Row known as Samshu Corner," and there to drink samshu, but no drinking in this quarter in recent years has been noticed.
8. There appear to be no grounds for dissatisfaction either with the general conduct of Hongkong public-houses or with the Pulice supervision of these houses. Drunken- ness in this Colony amongst the European population is not in excess of the amount found in other ports and cities. The analysis of thirty-one samples of the Browne, 15. cheapest liquors has shown that such liquors are not crude, inferior, or adulterated,* so that we fail to find that any evil whatever exists as regards the conduct of the liquor traffic of the Colony.
May, 4, 8.
-
Since the evidence of the Government Analyst was taken a number of samples have been submitted for analysis and four prosecutions have been instituted for adulteration (deficiency of strength).
9. It does not appear to us to be compatible with the public safety that The Food Browne, 17.and Drugs Ordinance, No. 18 of 1896, should be a dead letter, and we recommend that steps be taken in order that largely increased numbers of samples may be examined in the Government Laboratory, so that as inuch as possible may be done to prevent the sale of any adulterated or deleterious liquors.
Maclean, iv. Evatt, v.
10. As all the evidence collected has shown that the drunkenness here is due to Atkinson, vithe quantity and not to the quality of the liquor consumed, we are of opinion that the cheapness of liquor is conducive to the increase of drunkenness. As samshu is very cheap, legislation should be undertaken so that this liquor or any liquor containing May, 11. samshu may not be sold either directly or indirectly to Europeans.
Appendix Xu. 6.
11. It is essential that the holders of public-house licences should be persons of good character, and as cases have occurred in which householders have been guarantors for a person wholly unfit to hold a licence, it is desirable that the fullest in- formation should be obtained as to the character of the applicant for such a licence.
12. We are of opinion that the number (twenty-three) of public-honses now licensed in the Colony is amply sufficient for present needs.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
WM. C. H. HASTINGS,
Chairman.
Jso. J. FRANCIS, q.c. (I desire to call special attention to Mr. Browne's evidence, p. 17 and the first sixteen lines of p. 18– another Analyst or Apothecary is surely needed.)
R. F. COBBOLD, M.A.
F. O. STEDMAN, M.D.. B.S., London.
His Excellency Major-General WILSONE BLACK, C.B.,
Acting Gocernor,
HONGKONG.