OPY.
No. 2.
Sir,
BRITISH CONSULATE,
SATOW.
January 16, 1933.
36
1
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your despatch P.L. No.36(5/32 V.1932) of December 24th last,
instructing me to report on the local situation as regards
smuggling conducted from Hongkong, with particular reference
to the aspects which affect the British shipping companies.
2. The methods employed by smugglers between Hongkong
and Swatow are very varied. The Customs estimate that 30%
of the goods leave Hongkong by steamer and 50% by steam or
motor launches. The great bulk is transferred to small
junks etc. before Swatow is reached: 20% may come by junk
all the way. Of the goods which are shipped by steam and
motor launches and junks, some are shipped from Bias Bay (according to the Commissioner of Customs here), having been
taken by junk across Mirs Bay, rushed past the Chinese
Customs stations on the shore and taken overland to Bias Bay.
Innumerable tricks are employed, a good example being afforded by Messrs. Imperial Chemical Industries' Saccharine,
which is bought in Hongkong and shipped to Swatow with false
labels, the real labels being removed in Hongkong, sent here
by post and reaffixed after the Saccharine has passed the
Customs as a low duty paying article.
spread.
Bribery is also wide-
3. As is well-known, there has been a great increase
of smuggling in Hongkong since the recent considerable
raising of the Customs tariff. It is not surprising that
His Majesty's Minister,
British Legation,
Peking.
the