652
M.P. Okan Sun Shang, the Chief Director of the company representing the firms, Fuk Tung and then Eing Shops undertakes that a quantity of Opium, not less than 815 chests will be brought and exported before the end of February, 1884, paying the Government $73,350.- On condition that they be allowed to Export 600,000 taels, or say $400,000 worth quarterly within the next 2/2 months, and be allowed to pass through the Colony a larger quantity of opium now prepared, and lying at Macao awaiting shipment.
For this latter privilege however, I have agreed that they pay to the Government, a sum of $9,000, and that every box leaving the Colony within one month.
Considerable quantity is on the point of being shipped from Macao so as to catch the American Mail Steamer at Yokohama, and it became necessary to act promptly, as an hour's delay would have broken off all further negotiation, and I accordingly took the responsibility of settling the matter at once, so as to let a steamer be chartered to fetch the Opium here to be re-shipped and distributed in time.