(13)
(12)
The existing Opium Ordinance entails upon us great hardships and surrounds our trade with difficulties. We have expended large sums in defending prosecutions in the Consular Court at Canton and in the Police Court here. We have to maintain at our own expense a costly preventive service—while under the provisions of the treaties with China our vessels are liable to prohibition from trading to Chinese ports and even to confiscation if smuggled opium be found on board.
Governor DES Vœux in his letter of the 30th September, 1889, admitted that our representations appeared to establish a case for redress, but so far nothing has been done in that direction.
We thank you for the expression of your willingness to assist us further and should occasion arise we shall not hesitate to avail ourselves of your kind offer.
ALFRED WEBB, Esq., M.P.,
House of Commons.
DEAR SIR,
We remain,
Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
THOS. ARNOLD, Secretary,
The Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents,
The China Navigation Company, Limited.
HOUSE OF COMMONS,
14th July, 1891.
I have received yours of 5th ultimo, relative to Opium Smuggling at Hongkong. As there appeared nothing private in the communication I am forwarding it to Baron DE WORMS, begging him to give the question attention. The Session is now nearly over. If before Parliament meets again—probably in January—you have any fresh evidence regarding the grievance to which you are subjected—and if you desire I should again in any way stir up the question I shall be most happy to do so.
T. ARNOLD, Esq.,
Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-bont Co., Ld.
Very sincerely yours,
ALFRED WEBB.
Extract from "The Hongkong Government Gazette" dated 25th July, 1891.
An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the movement of raw opium within this Colony and to the boiling and preparation of such opium within the Colony.
Section 55. Notwithstanding anything in this Ordinance contained, any raw or prepared Opium forfeited under this Ordinance shall not be delivered to the Opium Farmer if it shall be seized on board of any ship bound or about to proceed to any port of the Empire of China and does not appear on the Manifest of such vessel. Any Opium so forfeited shall be detained by the Magistrate who has cognizance of the case until the disposal thereof has been determined by the Governor in Council. And no Police Officer or other person authorised by the Governor or Magistrate to hold or store such Opium shall be liable to any penalty under this Ordinance by reason of such not being accompanied by a Certificate under Section 14 or otherwise.
物
Extract from the Speech of His Excellency the Acting Governor (Major-General G. Digby Barker, C.B.) at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held 15th October, 1891.
("Hongkong Daily Press,” October 16th, 1891).
As regards the Opium Ordinance, which was read a first time shortly before our vacation, circumstances have since shown the desirability of continuing to keep separate as heretofore the law as regards raw and prepared opium respectively, which it was proposed by the Bill to amalgamate.
That Bill will therefore be withdrawn and two new Ordinances will be at once introduced dealing separately with these two matters.
Extract from the Speech of the Acting Attorney General at a Meeting of the Legislative Council, held 15th October, 1891.
The ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL.—The next few amendments are really introduced owing to representations which have been made from time to time by the owners of ships I have referred to. They deal with the question of opium that is seized on board ships that are about to proceed to the ports of Canton and Macao. I think, however, it is unnecessary to put in Macao. Their argument has been, I believe, that the Magistrates nearly always give the opium that is seized to the opium farmer, and that the opium farmer very often was himself implicated in the smuggling. Whether that is so or not I do not know, but these sections place at the disposal of the Governor in Council any opium found on board a ship about to proceed to Canton, so that if any circumstances come to the knowledge of the Governor in Council showing the opium farmer has been implicated the probability is that he would not direct that the opium farmer should have any benefit from the opium discovered.
Prepared Opium Ordinance No. 21 of 1891, assented to by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government on the 13th day of November, 1891.
Section 38. Notwithstanding anything in this Ordinance contained, any opium seized on board of any steamship bound or about to proceed to the ports of Canton or Macao and which does not appear on the manifest of such vessel shall if forfeited by a Magistrate be detained by him until the disposal thereof has been determined by the Governor in Council.
Section 39. Any opium forfeited and detained under the preceding section may be disposed of as the Governor in Council directs; and no Police officer or other person lawfully holding or storing such opium shall be liable to any penalty under this Ordinance by reason of such opium not being accompanied by a certificate under section 12 or otherwise.
"The Hongkong Daily Press," 3rd November, 1891.
Extract of the Proceedings at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held November 2nd, 1891.
Honourable T. H. WHITEHEAD—I wish to move an amendment to section 14 of the Bill. I would move that section 14 should read as follows:—"The Governor in Council may grant to any person, for such considerations and upon
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