Appendix D (1).
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FOR THE YEAR 1914.
LIQUORS CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE.
1. The revenue collected from liquor duties and licensed warehouses for 1914 was $656,955.89 as compared with $729,340.60 in 1913. The decrease is almost entirely due to the general situation attendant on the war, as is shown by a comparison of the revenue for the respective half-years, given below:
1st half-year. 1913. 1914. Duties, European Liquors, $121,449.64 $114,316.23 Duties, Chinese Liquors, 225,845.25 223,118.16 Licensed Warehouse Fees. 7,000.00 54.00 Licensed Warehouse Overtime Fee, 6,750.00 34.00 $374,991.71 $312,737.50 2nd half-year. Duties, European Liquors, $133,010.95 $107,715.45 Duties, Chinese Liquors, 241,899.93 204,988.05 Licensed Warehouse Fees. 20.83 60.00 Licensed Warehouse Overtime Fee, 34.00 $354,348.89 $344,218.39 Total. $729,340.60 $656,955.892. The details of the trade in European liquors are given in Table I, of the trade in Chinese liquor in Tables II and III. As was to be expected a general decrease is shown in the imports, the amount distilled, the exports and local consumption.
OPIUM MONOPOLY.
3. The lease of the Opium Farm expired on February 28th, 1914. It had already been decided that on the expiration of this lease the preparation and retail sale of opium in the Colony should be under the direct control of the Government and the management was placed in the hands of this department. I would like at once to express my gratitude to the members of the Opium Farm, and more particularly the Manager Mr. Ch'an Kai-ming for the assistance given me in taking over and for much valuable advice. The system adopted was practically that of the Farmer. Certain modifications were introduced from the Singapore Monopoly which I had the opportunity of visiting in 1913, and where I gained much from the experience of Mr. F. J. Baddeley, the Superintendent.