20615
KECO
Race 7 AUG 19
195
Hongkong, 26th April, 1899.
Dear Sir,
We beg to draw the Chamber's attention to the way fines are imposed on vessels at Saigon, should any opium be found on board of them not manifested, with a view to representations on the subject being made to the French Authorities so that shipowners may be relieved to a reasonable extent of the disabilities under which they now labour.
There is no doubt that smuggling does exist, but it has been shown in several instances that it is planned and carried out, chiefly by people in Saigon who are induced, by the large rewards given by the Saigon Authorities for discovery of any opium not manifested, to engage in this trade.
We would mention that all possible precautions are taken on the part of Captains and Officers to prevent smuggling by searching passengers, and their luggage when coming on board, and by searching repeatedly the vessel on the way to Saigon in order to discover any contraband, but the opium is generally so cleverly concealed that it is but seldom discovered.
We beg to suggest that representations be made to the French Authorities at Saigon requesting them to entirely do away with the system of rewards to informers; and, if this should not be considered advisable, to reduce the rewards to such a level that informers can no longer find it a profitable business to smuggle opium on board and afterwards lay information against the steamer. We may mention that the reward given to informers is at present $20.00 for every tael of Opium discovered, the value of such tael being about 50 cents.
R. Chatterton Wilcox, Esq
Secretary,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.