E 2
OPIUM MONOPOLY.
3. The total quantity of raw opium boiled during the year was 352 chests as compared with 365 chests in 1916.
4. The revenue derived from the sale of opium was $5,887,475.44 as compared with $5,811,110.15 in 1916. The price of prepared opium remained unchanged during the year.
5. A large number of seizures were again made during the year as will be seen from Table IV. The amount of Raw Opium again shows a decrease owing to steps taken to prevent the re-exportation of raw opium from the United Kingdom. There is a slight increase in the amount of Prepared Opium seized.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF RAW OPIUM.
6. Tables V to VII show the details of the import and export of raw opium.
The total amount of certificated Indian Opium imported into the Kwang Tung province during the year only amounted to 38 chests. 186 chests were exported to Shanghai. The whole of the Persian Opium landed in the Colony was forwarded to Formosa.
Uncertificated Opium was imported for the Government Monopoly and the Macao Opium Farmer.
SUGAR.
7. Table VIII shows the details of the import of sugar during the year.
TOBACCO ORDINANCE.
8. The net revenue collected under the Tobacco Ordinance was $499,871.71. Details of this revenue are shown in Table IX and the movements of all kinds of tobacco are shown in Tables X, XI, XII, and XIII.
The Tobacco Ordinance was applied to the New Territories generally as from 1st July. In order to minimise the amount of supervision required, the manufacturers in the New Territories (North District) are allowed to pay duty on the raw leaf on removal from bond, fixed rebates being granted according to the class of leaf to cover loss on offal. The market-village of Tai (Lantao Islands) is allowed to import prepared tobacco from Chinese Territory, paying duty through the Police. The New Territories retailers have not been required to take out licences except in New Kowloon and Cheung Chau,