sir,
BNCLOSURE
0.0
13113
REC
LR: 22 JUN 16.
Hong Kong 33th. April 1396.
128
With reference to 0.0.Despatch No. 265 of the 1st. of Noventer 1335, we bave the honour to report as follows:-
2.
We inspected some of the opiun divans and are of opi- nion that, although the sanitary conditions of the divans appear to be somewhat better than formerly, there is still room for 11-
provement.
3.
They do not appear to be particularly clean or well ven- tilated, and in the case of divans situated on upper floors. there ! would be a great risk to life in the event of fire breaking out on the lower floors, especially if the divans bappened to te full
of customers.
4.
We bave ascertained that each of the Dross divans in Vic toria pays to the Dross ferner (who is a sub-lessee of the Opius Farner) the sun of 3 monthly plus a daily fee ranging from 50 - cants to $2.30, whilst be in turn farms out such divans in the
villages for the monthly total of $457.30.
5.
The total received by the Opian Farmer from the dros3
farmer is $4880 a month or $51,120 per annus.
This suo is paid for the privilege of preparing dross oplus for smoking and selling it for consumption in droas divans.
In addition to iross divans, there are divans for the consumption of prepared opius purchased from the Opium Farner
by the customers.
These pay a licence fee to the Farner of generally $5 per denses* tringing in a total of atout #1.500 per annua. (There are three- whion pay $7, $4, and #1 respectively.)
7.
If Government undertook the licensing of all divans, there would be a reduction of the value of the Farn which would
however