direct such steps to be taken as shall
"prevent our being subjected to the influence of these initiatory acts of smuggling, which as you
are fully
aware,
are
fraught
"with most serious consequence. to the Steamer at Canton.
On the 24th September
1889 a joint letter was again addressed to the Colonial Secretary
in which it is re-asserted "that
The licensed Opium Farmer was "The principal offender; two cases
are
in point
gave
considerable
length"
into a cosi.
and the request is
made "that no opium, raw or
"prepared', which in the opinion
of the Magistrate was
being moved with the purpose of being smuggled
"into China, shall be registered to the Opium Farmer or his officers
in any presence." Again,
in their letter of 5th June 1891, to
Mr. Alfred Webb, M. P. the joint Companies write,
"Colony
544
"as far as this
is concerned', anybody may
smuggle or prepared smuggle
opium into China with impunity "provided only that the opium be
attempt to smuggle
"covered by the Opium Farmer's permit.
The object of the plan
of smuggling
Farm and
forward by
Mr
Ryrie in the Legislative Council on the 27th November
1889, and the Governor
stated in his reply, "I am quite aware
and anxious ground of complaint
"there is
ground of complaint from
the point of view
of the Honourable Member
and from the point of view of the Government also. I
"think he was made aware entirely "that we have under consideration
"an ordinance intended to meet
"the
#
very object which the honourable member desires." It was no doubt