The clause would be that the Chinese Government would lose revenue amounting to about $200,000 a year, for that is the sum paid to this Government for the monopoly of boiling and preparing opium, which in its raw state is now obtained by the Farmer free of duty. The imposition of a duty on opium would naturally render this monopoly valueless.
I may remark also that three quarters of the opium so prepared in Hong Kong is exported to British Colonies Australia, Vancouver Island and British Columbia, and also to California. Because it is consumed in these places by Chinese.
Sir Robert Hart "said" to make it pay just enough to avoid hardship to consumers or dealers.
It is well to consider the fact that it would interfere with the revenue from smuggling opium from China.
It is with regard to clause 4. However, that a difficulty may arise when the Commission assembles. That rule was doubtless proposed on the assumption that Rule 5 would be agreed to by Her Majesty's Government, for unless the distribution of opium...