297

(6) No person shall export or aid or abet the exportation of any raw opium from the Colony, if such exportation shall have been notified in the Gazette in pursuence of any resolution of the Legislative Council as being illegal.

3.

In practice the third sub-section above has always been interpreted as necessitating not merely authorize tion by the Government of the country concerned, but actuel

direct importation by that Government itself.

4.

The chests of raw opium exported to Formosa

since the passing of the above Ordinance have without exception been consigned to the Formosan Government on through Bills of Lading. They have been included in the annual tables of imports and exports in accordance with the letter of the law; but in point of fact they have merely been given the opportunities for trans-shipment which this port affords.

5.

It must not be thought that the chests shown as passing through Hongkong compose the whole of Formosa's imports, as I have information of ships being chartered for the direct run from Baers to Keelung with cargoes of opium.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

7. E. Stabb

Governor, &c.

Page 300Page 301

1

Share This Page