OPY,
Enclosure 2
206
CO 22433
Rece 10.092 11. 10
The Head Bureau for the Suppression “or. Opium
in the whole Province of Kwongtung do hereby issue this Notifi
-cation as follows:- We have received instructions from H. 3.
the Viceroy that as regards to the taxation on prepaed Opium
has His Excellency telegraphically consulted the Board of Finance
and has received a reply from the latter sanctioning a trial of the scheme. We find that this form of taxation is to be
carried out under methods similar to those used in the Province
of Kiang Su. For every tael of prepared opium, the charge is 30 cents. We have already ordered Mr. Leung Chiu Tong x merchant and master of Kwong Wing Yuen (a raw opium dealer) to undertake
the work. We have originally fixed the 1st. day of the 4th.
moon for starting the collection of this tax, and have issued a notification on the subject Ir for the information of the
public. However the matter at issue has been temporarily put
off, at the request of the principal Chamber of Commerce (in
Canton), which body desired to generally elect one for this
work. We have now received a reply from them, sating that they
had met together again and again to discuss the matter of joint
recommendation of one for this undertaking, but so far they
failed in arriving at a decision. Taking into consideration the
conditions of the xxx affair, we find Kwong Wing Yuen is more
dompetent than others for this work. Moreover we have before
given him instructions to do the work. Now it is only natural
that he should put on his shoulders the burden of this under...
-taking, so as to put an end to opposition and the responsibility
be on one only. We have now received instructions from His
Excellency the Viceroy that the lst, day of the 5th, moon be
fixed for the enforcement of this new taxation. Besides re-
-questing His Excellency to intimate (the Board of Finance) to
have the matter recorded, and inform other officials for obey-
-ing the same. we think it fit to issue this notification
•
whereby those trading in raw or prepared opium, purchasers
of