E 4-
It is notable that of a total of 7,740 persons imprisoned during the year 3,040 were imprisoned for Opium offences: and that out of a total of 1,513 deported 666 were deported for Opium offences.
Table IX is a complete list of seizures. The list naturally covers a wide range. It includes the merest fraction of a tael of prepared opium found in a divan and the parcel of several hundreds of taels of raw or prepared found on a ship. On 1631 occasions less than one tael of prepared was taken: on 28 occasions more than 100 taels of prepared opium was taken: on 36 occasions less than a tael of raw opium was taken and on 36 occasions more than 100 taels of raw opium was taken. A selection of the more important seizures will be found in Table XIII. The remarks in the column headed 'Destination' must, of course, be accepted with reserve. It should be explained that opium classified as 'Amoy' is Chinese. The separate heading is given as a matter of convenience, for Amoy opium is notoriously destined for Singapore. Accordingly if a comparison is sought between this year and last year as regards the volume of illicit material of Chinese origin destined for consumption on the local market a juster result will be reached by excluding Amoy seizures in each case. The result is approximately as follows:-
1926 prepared opium seized 15,500 taels
1927 19,600 taels
an increase in the current year of approximately 25%. The figures for raw opium give a like result namely,
1926 raw opium seized ...... 15,000 taels
1927 20,000 taels
It may be added that the reduced seizures of Amoy opium must not necessarily be taken as proof of any diminution in the traffic from that port. So far as this department is concerned - it is explicable by the fact that, in view of the constant stream from other sources and clearly destined for Hong Kong, it has not been possible to pay so much attention to this transit traffic. The great bulk of the material classified generally as 'Chinese' - fully 90% - is traceable to Wuchow. That is to say the prepared opium is prepared at Wuchow and the raw, emanating no doubt from the poppy fields of Yunnan, is shipped at Wuchow. It has been introduced in large or small consignments by every vessel plying between that port and this. The following is the record of a single ship for a few weeks.