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with this intention that sections 38 and 39 of Ordinance No. of 1891 were drafted to the effect that
any opium seized on board any steamship bound to Canton or Macao shall, if forfeited by a Magistrate, be detained by him until the disposal thereof has been determined by the Governor in Council. The following authoritative explanations are given of these sections by the Acting Attorney General at the Meeting of the Legislative Council of 15th October 1891.
After quoting the arguments of the steamship owners, that the Magistrates nearly always give the opium seized to the Opium Farmer, and that the Opium Farmer was often implicated in the smuggling, he proceeds, "Whether this 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 any steamship about to proceed to Canton or Macao, so that if any circumstances come to the knowledge of the Governor in Council showing that 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."
And this was confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in a letter dated 8th April 1892, of which a copy was handed to ... by Mr. Thomas Arnold in his letter of 10th August last, in which he states that any opium found on board any steamship bound to Canton or Macao, will, if forfeited by a Magistrate, not necessarily be (as heretofore has been the case) given up to the farm or ...