7.
Bay by an armed launèh belonging to some Chinese Department (A differmat explanation of this incident is, however, pbasi
ble
see note at end ★f this report).
This objec ti on
-
-
NADO the insincerity of China applies whether control in by taxation or not. But it is doubly vaxatious that our population should be taxed to protect the revenue of a Power, whose own officials systematically "aid and abet" frauds on that revenue.
Taxation is not necessary to secure the end in view. A sys- tem of licenoea and permi ta can limit the amount of "free" salt in the Colony to the actual requirements of its popula- ti on.
The same system can suppress out of hand the smuggling depots at Deep Bay and elsewhere within the Colony. There will be a certain amount of leakage through the fishing fleet but there would be just the same leakage with the more or less nominal tax of 20 cents per picul.
It will not be ami as to record here the fact that there is strong evidence to show that armed Chinese patrol-launches belonging to the Gabelle or some other Department are in the habit of molesting salt-laden vessels well within the waters of the Colony. The incident in Deep buy mentioned above may
be an instance of this. Other and clearer cases have been reported, the enene being between the Ninepine and Po Toi Island. The junks seized in the latter case were carrying salt from the Chinese Coast.
"
(6a) D. W. Tratman,
Ag Bupszintendent of Imports and
Exports.
Hongkong 18. 3. 1919.