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Enclosure 3 12 o. 1.
Opium Prohibition Bureau to Consul-General Jamieson.
Hsuan Tung, 2nd year, 2nd moon, 16th day
(March 16, 1911).
(Translation.)
THE Opium Prohibition Bureau has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the consul-general's letter, requesting to be clearly informed as to what measures were taken with reference to the seizure of 20 balls of Patna opium at Samshui on the 27th day of the 6th moon of last year, and concerning which Hsu Tuotai verbally informed His Majesty's vice-consul that, if the owner of the opium in question would
he would try to arrange a satisfactory settlement. According to the report of the merchant Liang Chao-tang in charge of the Kuang Yüan office for the collection of the prepared opium licence levy, it appears that on the 27th day of the 6th moon of last year there were seized at Samshui 20 balls of foreign opium purchased in Hong Kong and unprovided with a purchasing licence, and which had reached Wuchow, in the province of Kuanghsi, by a circuitous route without passing the Samshui Customs. After paying duty at the Wuchow Customs the packages were broken and the contents brought to Kwangtung for retail sale, where it was discovered that, although the opium bore the seal of the Wuchow Customs, there was no manifest accompanying it for transit to Kwangtung, and on passing the Samshui Customs it was found out and a fine imposed. Moreover, again without reporting to the branch office of the Opium Investigation Department, whither the opium was going, it was wrongfully taken in a hired boat into the interior for secret hoarding. A branch office of the Kuang Yuan office at that place made enquiries, and discovered that the transporters of the opium had no trading licence, and, as they subsequently decampel, there was no option but to bring the 20 balls, of foreign opium seized to Canton, and report to this office for instructions.
Inasmuch as the opium was unprovided with a purchasing licence and no report made to the Kuang Yuan office, in every way contrary to the regulations and indicative of a deliberate attempt to smuggle, this office gave instructions for the case to be severely dealt with. After some time had elapsed and the smugglers still remained in hiding, the Kuang Yiian office sold the whole consignment of opium, and, after deducting the legitimate licence tax, apportioned part of the balance to rewards and confiscated the remainder, As this all took place in the 8th month of last year before the new regulations for the non-confiscation of smuggled opium came into force, the action taken was in accordance with established precedent. At that time measures for the suppression of smuggling were very severe, and the fact that the transporters of the opium were not arrested and brought to trial was an act of clemency.
Fearing that His Majesty's consul-general may be under some misapprehension as to the facts of the case, the bureau has the honour to forward this report for his information.
(Card of the Opium Prohibition Bureau.)
1911
uge Office
Date.
may.
previous Paper.
11350
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