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cargo on board steamers arriving
from Hong Kong.
It would appear
that the trouble is largely due to the
practice to which the Governor refers
(to
paton) of
in paragraph 4 of his despatch
permitting members of the crew to
carry with them in their quarters
or elsewhere goods which do not pay
freight.
F'
This privilege is no doubt
allowed by the shipping companies very
largely in their own interests, but
amongst the goods so carried
there is obviously a strong presumption
that many will be dutiable and will be
embarked with the intention of smuggling.
As the discovery of such dutiable goods at a
Chinese port renders the owners liable
to punishment, it is obviously in the
interest of the shipping companies to
prevent dutiable articles being shipped
without their knowledge. It does not
appear