Enclosure 4.
486
---རིན,,
Dear, but what?
Copy
Confidential
Hong Kong
The subject is complicated, requiring much explanation and careful scrutiny of calculations which have not been attached to this report.
The extract we have been given is lacking in detailed explanation, making the investigation difficult without further complicating the subject.
7. We conclude by saying that the Farmer considers that the opium required for local consumption is smuggled in from Latao, Kowloon City, and elsewhere.
9. He complains that there are 30 or more free shops selling shrimps and other goods, and that the latter are selling prepared opium being smuggled into Hong Kong and sold at a price lower than he can afford to sell.
4th February, 1891
As directed by H.E. The Governor, we have had several interviews with the Opium Farmer.
He asserts that he has been a considerable loser for some time, and if the figures shown by his books are correct, we are of the opinion that he will, during the remainder of the year, probably be unable to account for the losses he has already sustained.
He states that his principal losses are due to the smuggling of prepared opium into Hong Kong and sold at a price lower than he can afford to sell. He estimates that he does not sell more than 50%...