6
12
in its present shape. This retail trade both for smuggling and legitimate export was estimated not to exceed 7500 piculs before the additional article of the Chefoo Agreement came into force on 1st February.
The collection of all Customs duties was at once transferred to the Imperial Customs, or as it is also called the Foreign Inspectorate. Hitherto, as stated in Mr. Russell's report, the duty on Opium conveyed to Canton in steamers only was collected by the Foreign Inspectorate, whilst that on Opium conveyed in Junks was collected by the Hoppo and the Viceroy. In order to encourage conveyance of opium in junks, a rebate of 25 per cent on duty and of 40 per cent on Likin was granted if paid in Hongkong and to this competition for the collection is to be attributed the small number of complaints made for some years past and the considerable