Report on the examination of some Account Books 24.
relating to the Macau Opium Farm for the years
1924/27.
Introduction.
The previous Farm was to expire on
the 31st December 1923, and some months previous
to this date, advertisements were published by the
Macau Government calling for tenders on the basis of
360 chests of Indian opium for consumption in Macau, and a slightly decreased amount for the next two
years. No tenders were received, and the
advertisement was withdrawn, by order, it was reported, of the finister for the Colonies. Arrangements were come to with the old farmer Lee Hyson, an opium merchant of Hong Kong, to continue
the Farm for another six months, during which time
the form operated under the name of "Ice Shing Company"
In the Spring of 1924 a new call for
tenders for the Farm was made on the basis of 240
chests for consumption in Macau during the first
year and a decreased amount for the next two years.
Again no offers were received, as it was realised
by possible tenderers that there was little
possibility of obtaining Indian opium direct and at reasonable prices.
Negotiations were then entered into
with Lee Hyson once more and he was induced to
undertake the Farm once again, rs the new Hong Kong Opium Ordinance had been introduced and not knowing what the full effect thereof might be he thought it right to keep in the back-ground and to operate through others. He in fact once denied to me that he had anything whatever to do with the cau