20.
22
involve ships and steamers in any risk for carrying opium raw or prepared.
Your Memorialists in conclusion
humbly submit.
That
any
alteration in the Prepared Opium Ordinance 1891, under which they applied for and obtained their Grant and in reliance on which they tendered so large a sum for the Farm, and which defines their rights privileges and immunities is a breach of their contract with the Government
of Hing King
their
that the amendments proposed to be effected by the Ordinance No 11 of 1894 now objected to, expose the possessor of prepared opium in the Harbour of Hong Kong to dangers and liabilities to which they were not exposed when the Farm was tendered for by Your Memorialists, diminishes the value as a protection of certificates under the Ordinance of 1891 and leads necessarily
to a large diminution in the number of persons who
are likely to purchase opium from Your Memorialists and from their licensees and to the consequent diminution in the extent of such sales and of their profits on the faith
of which they tendered
a
that the complaints of the Steamer owners on the strength of which the Amendment are made are to a very considerable extent
unfounded and
ought
never to have been
put