July 6, 1908.)
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
to him by the self Government Association said: Vloeroy Chang in reply to letter addressed
the recent flood; the reports of the miseries and -"I am fully aware. of the calamity caused by sufferings of the people in the interior is really heart-rending.
TEA DUTIES IN KWAŃNGTUNG.
guenetwork. It is true that some meisures have been taken in Canton and its vicinity in the sup pression of opium smoking by the officials, but no systematic methods have yet been adopted'; no de- partment has been established exclusively for the purpose; no special offici I Las been appointed to enforce the opium edicts; and no organization
have given instrnotions to the to search, arrest, and punish those who smoke Bureau of Affairs to give every assistance Provincial Treamrer, the Judge and the L cal opium illicitly. Only some sort of general in possible in alleviating the distress. I am als struction has ben given to the police by half sending deputies to the interior to report the a dozen high officials viz; the Provincial Trea-condition of affairs, and on receipt of full surer, Judge, Balt Commissioner, Prefect &o, particulars I will memorialize the Throne &o, all of whom seem to lave power to order With regard to the bandits ad robbers who the Chief Superintendent of Police (as they are taking advantage of the confusion and please) to enter and search the public houses, plundering the towns, I have sent orders to the such as hotels, restaurants, theatres, lower- officials to arrest and severely punish boats &o, and to armest people who indulge in offenders within their jariɛdiation," smoking opium without & licence; but these are very few and the majority of the people who visit them are of the well-to-do-class, whom the police are reluctant to interfere with, for fear of losing their position.
The following is a literal translation of a It is publicly known Proclamation issued by the Vicaroy:- that very few of the wealthy class possess opium licences bearing their proper names.
"This proclamation is issued to inform the Besides, people that hitherto no duty has ever been levied the licence is practically issued to the holder for the right and the privilege of purchas. Province, and merchants
on t's grown and consumed in the Kwangtung ing opium, and most of them are in the name export any quantity of it to all parts of the were allowed to of their servants, and not few heavy Province. But in the 14th year of Kwong smokers
possess half 8
dezen of them Shui (1886) the Hoppo discovered and seized to satisfy the craving for themselves and certain tea junks who were smuggling tea to their friends who are smokers. I cannot other Provinces, in consequence of which de- understand the object of the government gulations were made limiting the transportation in isening these fatile and mook licences. I of tea to fifty catties by all vessels trading in can realize the sense of issuing a licence bear- the Province; sod vessels found carrying in ing the proper name of the holder with his photograph attached to it for the inspection of
excess of the limit are liable to be fined. Eger since those regulations were enforced people of the police in order to identify the smoker. In various parts of the province have been Canton spasmodic demonstration by the anti-ing of short supply and also of the hich price of complain- opium society often acts as an impetus, and that stap'e article, and have repeatedly applied reminds the public of the existence of laws prohibiting opium smoking, otherwise the lawe my predecessors have granted the request.
that the restriction be removed, but none of are simply ignored. When I last visited have been here a little over a year, and I know Wuchow I was surprised in discovering that thoroughly what is beneficial and detrimental actually no measures had been taken at all by to the place. Recently, Cheong Yuen-tong the officials in that Treaty Port to suppress and others, tes merchants, petitionel to me opium_emcking. I was told that the opium praying that the restriction may be removed. dens there are doing a thriving business. I After consulting with the Superintendent asked a Chinese friend of mine who is of the of the Customs Bureau on the matter I find lopal gentry (a J. P.) How is it that the that in removing the restridtien it will not opium laws are not enforced there? He affect the duty of the Province in any way; replied,
Canton and Wuchow are two quite and on the other hand it would be profitable to different cities; in the former you have a viceroy, and numerous high officials, many
the merchants and beneficial to the people. I have notified the Commissioners of Customs of foreign consuls and a large number of foreig the various Treaty Ports, and the officials of the, ners, therefore more attention is paid to Líkin Stations that those regulations have been international affairs in that region, so the high abolished, and in future they are not to detain authorities take strong measures to prohibit or cause any trouble to vessels carrying tea opium smoking there. But Wachow is far This proclamation is issued to inform the away inland; in fact, in all places up-country and merchants and the general public. that in in Kwang Si Provincs both the officials and future no limit the people take no notice of the new opium laws." It was a very good explanation and would hold water, but I think the truth of it is that the opium consumed in those places ising to custom tariff. chiefly native produce, and the duty and squeeze" made by the government and the officials amounts to over eighty taels per pical, and that is the sole reason for the wily officials shutting their eyes, and making the new opium laws a dead-letter.
11
July 2nd,
|
|
RICE.
HONGKONG, 6th July:-Large demands have come forward for rice in consequence of the floods in Kwangtung, and prices contienne to advance.
Saigon, Ordinary
Quotations are :----
"
31
Siam,
Round, Good quality Long...
Garden,
.$5.80 to $5,85 5.80 to 5.65
5.90 to
6.00
Field mill cleaned, No. 2... 6.80 to
5:35
♪
"
No. 1... 5.95 to
6.05
-
"
White,
Fine Cargo
6.85 to 6.95 to
6.90 7.00
Co, in their
SAIGON.-Messrs, Wm. G. Hale Circular, dated 26th June, state:-Our market closes strong under an active demand from China. Quotations for July and August delivery ars:—
No. 2 White sifted (trié) steam milled
round
No. 2 White unsifted (ordinaire) steam
milled round
6% Cargo ateam milled round 10% Cargo steam milled round 20% Cargo ateam milled round
$3.88
3.40
8.38
3.82
* Prices according to terms and conditions.
ports of White Rice, Cargo Rice and Paddy:-
The following is a statement of this year's Ex-
Destination. Previously
Hongkong
Manila Shanghai Ningpo
Iloilo Ceba
Singapore Japan Batavia Samarang Passceran
Sourabaya
Noumea Reunion Europe
To tal
Since the 3rd April.
Same period last year......................
Total
pes.
2,246,200
76,400
46,800
457,800
101,800
272,700
..1,272,500
823,200
109,000
107,800
81,000
588,000
24,000
135,100
,2,879,500
.8,119,800
10,330,700
Tonnage.-Quotations stand as follows: 13 to the Philippines; 21 cents to Japan and 12 cants to Hongkong; 21 cents to Java; 22 cents cents to Singapore.
The Exports of the mouth of white Rice Cargo, risc and Paddy have been-
quantity of tea transported to the interior will by fixed од the
of Kwangtung. Tea exported to foreigs countries will have to pay duty accord- merchants were to be caught smuggling by the Hongkong
If any unprincipled
be fined according to the Customs regulations, 1.M. Customs or the Likin Stations they will I command the people to take notice of and abstain from disobeying this proclamation.”
Manila Iloilo Cebu
Japan. Singapore Sourabaya... Europe
piculs
379,600
75,200
21,800
20,100
867,600
45,200
28,800
427,600
1,880,800
HE FLOOD.
The food is still the one topic of conversation among the people here. The newly established Relief Society have been very energetic in their work, and really deserve praising for the ex. cellent services rendered by them to the dis. tressed p ople both in the vicinity of Canton and up-country. Relief funds are daily pouring in from every direction. The people of Hong- kong and Macao have also contributed most generously towards the fund. A few days ago a wealthy merchant here n med So Sing-kne sent the manificent sum of $80,000 to the Relief Society.
IMPORTS. :-
COMMERCIAL.
Quotations are:--
Malwa New
OPIUM.
HONGKONG, July 4th.
In order to prevent the Likia Stations inland from delaying the shipments of rice and Malwa Old necessaries for relieving thousands of homeless Malwa Older and starving people in the interior the Relief Society has written to the Superintendent of Persian Fine Quality
Malwa Very Old the Likin-Bureau requesting that instructions be given to all stations in the Two Kwang
Persian Extra Fine ..... provinces to release all vessels chartered by
Patna New them without any delay on presentation of their station- card to the official in charge of | Benares New the station.
Patna Old ............
Benares Old...epis
$920
per pioul, $965
do. $970/80 do. $1010/30 do. .$800 do. 1.$880 do.
$1085 per chest.
do.
$975
do.
dɔ.
Total...
PIECE GOODS.
SHANGHAI, - Messrs Ilbert & Co.'s Weekly Report, dated June 25th states:-A fair amount of activity has prevailed this week, but buyers generally are timid, and very often do not show any signs of disappointment if their offers do not lead to business; a slight change in Exchange or sign of reaction in cotton affects the attitud of buyers from day to day, more especiall** either tends towards lower price. Arri reported in the records of importa thaa nsual this week, and the effect forward business in the lighter American sheetings, laid down about or March, is now being shown; maný goods enter into direct competition shirtings, and notwithstandin Icharacter of the demands this
to be coming forward on a li