MACAO.
119
(5) Macao is the only Portuguese colony in which
the traffic in opium exists. The custom of smoking prepared
opium there is centuries old. In view of the geographical
position of this colony and the race of the inhabitants, a
slow but steady effort will be required in order to correct
an inveterate habit, which could not be discontinued
without the risk of serious disturbance, such as would be
caused in Europe by the prohibition of tobacco or alcohol.
The population of Macao numbers 120,000 Chinese
having increased owing to the political unrest in the
neighbouring provinces. The floating population is
estimated at 1,126,488 Chinese.
The revenues from the farming out of the opium
monopoly were as follows:
$2,701,800.00
in 1922/23
$2,457,356.04
in 1923/24
X1,082,022.17 in 1924/25
The total revenues from the colony for these years
were respectively
$4,708,632.07
$5,429,892.06
7,266,420. 31
This proves that there has been a considerable reduction
in the percentage for opium revenues, the figures having been
57% in 1922/23, 45% in 1923/24 and 15% in 1924/25.
x
Mexican dollars approximately equivalent to half a gold
dollar.