E 2
TOBACCO ORDINANCE.
3. The duty on all tobacco was on 7th April increased by a Resolution of the Legislative Council. This increase was generally slightly over 100% except in the case of the most expensive class of cigars, on which the duty was raised to only $2.50 per lb. from $1.50.
The net revenue collected under the Tobacco Ordinance was $1,062,031.14 as compared with $631,877.66 for 1920.
The general details are as follows
1921 1920 Duties on Tobacco $ 1,051,568.39 621,229.91 Licensed Warehouse Fees 1,918.75 1,993.75 Licensed Warehouse Overtime Fees 72.00 78.00 Retailers' Licences 7,596.00 7,692.00 Manufacturers' Licences 744.00 772.00 Importers' Licences 132.00 112.00 Total $1,062,031.14 631,877.66Full particulars are shown in Tables VI-IX.
OPIUM MONOPOLY.
4. The revenue for 1921 was $3,938,197.99 as compared with $4,317,970.90 for 1920, a decrease of $379,772.91. The price of $14.50 per tael was maintained throughout the year.
Tables X-XII show the movements of raw opium during the year. Apart from opium for the monopoly and opium in transit for the Japanese and Macao Governments the only chests now in Hongkong are a small residue in the hands of local merchants left over from the days when Hongkong was an entrepôt for raw opium.
Table XIII shows the seizures of illicit opium, indicating another large increase on previous years.
TRADE STATISTICS.
5. Table XIV shows the number of permits, etc., issued during the year under the provisions of the Importation and Exportation Ordinance; the figures slightly exceed those of 1920.
The form of the Quarterly and Annual Trade Returns was altered early in the year, the effect being greater clearness and portability besides a saving on the expenses of production of over $10,000.
The total trade (excluding Treasure) for 1921 amounted to £135,834,936 as compared with £212,302,539 for 1920. Of this Imports were valued at £68,143,059 (as against £103,932,602 for
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