11
to be engaged in fomenting outbreaks in China, will be required
to leave the Colony, and if they do not do so will be deported.
The result of the searches has been the capture of some impor- tant revolutionary literature including telegraphic codes, maps
and cyphers. For this assistance the Viceroy has repeatedly
expressed his most cordial and earnest thanks. One of the Chi-
nese papers in Hongkong has for some time past published arti-
cles hostile to the Chinese Government, and I have recently
instituted a prosecution. The Editor has been convicted and
sentenced to two years' imprisonment. This will have a most
salutary effect, and Mr. Wei Han expressed unbounded delight
on hearing the news.
11. In another matter also the Government of China has
recently had a need of the good offices of this Government.
It has transpired that the Government of India has issued a
single certificate to cover varying numbers of chests of Malwa
opium.
These have in many instances been divided up and sold
separately, while the certificate remains in the hands of the
Merchant. Even in the case of Bengal opium for which a sopa-
rate certificate has been issued for each chest, the opium
has been sold and the certificate never called in. As the
marking of certificated cheste consists merely of a stencil
mark "China" (with a Crown added in the case of Malwa) it is
exceedingly easy to stamp this mark on uncertified chests, in point of fact I am told that it is already being done in
the Straite Settlements. The Chinese Commissioner of Customs
each has appealed to me to issue sub-certificates for a chest, to examine every chest on landing and give it an unmistake- able number, (in fact to keep a register of the life history of each chest), and to address the Government of India on the Bubject. I need not here go into details.
It is sufficient
and
to say that Mr. Harris tells me that without this assistance he cannot possibly give effect to the Opium Convention, in doing so this Government derives no benefit whatever,
-
but
and
incurs