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Hongkong; records of imports there not through Hongkong; records of re-exports from Macao; and finally from information derived from the Opium Farmer at Macao.
4.
On the 1st. April, 1909, the export of pre- -pared opiwn from Macao to San Francisco ceased. This had been a large part of the Macao Farmer's business. It was estimated by the Commissioner of Chinese Maritime Customs at 70 per centum of the
Macao Farmer's total trade (See I.M.Customs Trade Returns 1909, Part II Vol. 4 page 643). On 30th. April, 1909, the liacao Farmer closed his business forfeiting his guarantee. The Government of Macao carried on the business till July, 1910, when a new farm was let for 3 years expiring on 31st. July, 1913. During the years 1909 and 1910 there was very little export of prepared opium from liacao and for these two years the amount of raw opium imported into Macao and not re-exported to China (i.e. practically the amount
consumed in Macao) was 181 chests in 1909 and 150 chests in 1910.
During the first six months of 1911, the quantity boiled in Macao
for local consumption was 79 chests.
5.
The local consumption of opium in Hongkong has
been carefully enquired into, and is estimated at 540 chests per annum. The Chinese population of Lacao is estimated at 71,000: that of Hongkong at 440,000. Excluding the rural population (100,000) of
the New Territories, the poeple in the two places are very similer,
and it would therefore seem reasonable that the legitimate local consumption of Macao should not be more than 20 per centum of that of Hongkong. At any rate it is submitted that it cannot legitimate- -ly exceed 25 per centum of the consumption of Hongkong or 135 chests per annum. This latter contention is supported by the fact that the Hongkong Opium Farmer was a tenderer for the Macao Farm in 1910 and hopes to tender again in 1913.He estimates that in 1910 the local consumption of Macao was something less than 300 taels per diem; that it has now increased considerably owing to events in China and to the restriction of opium smoking there and may now be slightly over 400 taels per diem.400 taels per diem is equivalent