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opium escape as heretofore [See Smuggling Commission Report 1883. Inspector Cameron's evidence]
I undertook if the Commission thought well of my scheme to draft an Ordinance on the lines indicated. Sir Robert Hart at once said that my scheme would be an immense improvement upon the present state of affairs, and we adjourned until the Chinese Commissioners could discuss its details.
On the 5th Inst: we again met, & Sir Robert Hart stated that he had had a consultation with Shao Tao Tai with reference to the proposals made, & that they had agreed to recommend them for acceptance as being next to our own the best." However, he suggested that we should prohibit all junks clearing out at night, instead of simply prohibiting those that had shipped Opium.
I referred to Ordinance No. 84 of 1879, Section 38, Subsections 8, 9, & 10, as I had previously found that only one junk of no importance had had a night clearance this year. I consented to recommend that we would make it illegal for all junks leaving during the night time - a law at present in existence for suppression of piracy, but which is not put in force.
As Your Excellency has approved of this, I think we shall thus get rid of a lot of salt smugglers & other smugglers who are a pest to the Colony, & show the Chinese Government our real desire to aid them.
Sir Robert Hart said he would have to refer to Peking & could not expect to hear and do anything further before the 10th Inst., as he required to get authority to see...
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