D 49
Opium.
13. The imports of raw opium show a decrease of 3,990 chests, or 11.1%, while 1909 showed a decrease of 6,087 chests, or 14.5%. The exports declined by 7,641 chests, or 21.2%; in 1909 the decrease was 3,620 chests, or 9.7%. During the last three years the raw opium trade of the Colony is described by the following figures :-
1908 1909 1910 Stock in hand, 1st January, 4,707 chests. 4,509 5,808 Imported during the year, 31,743 35,734 41,821 Total, 36,252 41,542 46,528 Boiled by Opium Farmer, 782 864 Spurious Opium destroyed, 14 247 51 Exported during the year, 28,333 35,938 39,609 Total, 29,129 37,033 40,720 Stock remaining, 31st December, 7,123 4,509 5,808Of the several varieties of opium imported, Malwa decreased by 315 chests, or 6%, Patna by 3,241 chests, or 16.6%, Benares by 1,885 chests, or 22.5%, and Persian increased by 249 chests. Of Chinese opium, 1,223 chests were imported from Shanghai and re-exported to Haiphong. (See Table page 56).
Of the several varieties of opium exported, Malwa decreased by 735 chests or 13.8%, Patna by 5,317 chests, or 27%, Benares by 2,273 chests, or 26.8% and Persian by 517 chests or 18.8%. (See Table page 56).
Fourteen thousand three hundred and one (14,301) permits for export and removal were issued from this Office during the year being a decrease of 4,822 as compared with 1909 as follows:-
NUMBER OF PERMITS, &c., Issued. 1909 1910 Increase Decrease Landing Permit, (Opium), 285 312 27 Removal 8,764 6,731 2,033 Export 8,829 6,258 2,571 Removal" Export" 1 1 Landing Permit, (Opium Skins), 133 87 46 Memo of exports to the Commissioner of Chinese Customs, 149 109 40 681 569 112 Memo of exports to the Superintendent of Raw Opium Department, Macao, 279 231 48