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After the Stingsting opium Tariff had been abolished
Mr. Ban Stap who held
The Opium Farms at Singapore and Saigon Mr. Pilman assisted him in forming a Company to work the Opium Farm in
Hongkong, and it was in consequence of his success in this undertaking that The partners agreed to give him a gratuity and made a minute to that effect in their books. What purported to be a translation of this minute was read out by Mr. Stayllar at the trial in the Supreme Court but I am credibly informed that this was an inaccurate and misleading translation of the original Entries.
From the Sellers' books I have ascertained and from what Dr. Tang King Eing told me himself
I find that Mr. Pilman was Agent for Ban Stap in the Opium Farmer's dealings with foreigners.
When the dispute occurred among Share holders of the Company Mr. Pilman was Empowered by a majority of the share holders representing a Capital to the amount of $400,000 out of a total of $700,000 to represent their interests in the appeal now pending before the courts.
But Mr. Pilman's dealings with Ban Stap were not limited to Hong Kong, for he was Employed in a personal negotiation with the Macão Government in 1879 for the sale of the Opium Farm of Macao to the Hongkong opium Farmer.
In going over this correspondence I have come across the name of Mr. Andre