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strength in favour of the importer. principally concerned were not renewed.
The licences of those
4. Distilleries. The production of local distilleries on which duty was paid increased by 284,000 gallons. Most of the distilleries have installed various types of pot-stills in accordance with the new Regulations. Provided that the type of still afforded due protection to the Revenue, the distiller was left to instal what type he pleased. All the stills were made locally. Some were quite elaborate and produced very good results; but bad workmanship and inferior material in some cases caused a great deal of trouble, and the final cost was probably more than the cost of the imported articles. The Monopoly Analyst and the various European Revenue Officers in charge devoted a considerable amount of their time gratuitously to teaching the running staff how to handle the stills. The chief fault was trying to distill too rapidly with too fierce a fire, in order to get through the day's work before the usual time for closing down. The distillery staffs have now become well acquainted with the proper methods of control, and the smoother working of all distilleries is anticipated with confidence. The introduction of a more modern type of still has been gradually achieved after some years of hard work on the part of all officers concerned.
It has definitely been demonstrated that the more modern type requires less coal and labour and less space, whilst it extracts and collects practically all the alcohol from the fermented material treated. At the same time it affords a better protection to the Revenue, and to the owner himself, against constant petty leakages. An end has been put to the inefficient Chinese type of still, and the distilleries in the Colony are now conducted in a much more sanitary manner than hitherto, officers having the power to insist on the premises being kept clean. There is no doubt that much of the spirit imported from outside is produced under most insanitary conditions.
5. Chinese Imported Spirit.-After the placing of duty on a sterling basis on 19th February, the import of the cheaper kinds of Chinese type spirit practically ceased, though the special products of the North of China continued to be imported in fair quantities. Chinese rice spirit continued to be imported from Kong Moon, and Chan Chuen, there being a slight prejudice against locally produced rice spirit. Part of this may be due to the prevalent adulteration in liquor shops, cheaper molasses spirit being blended in, and the result sold as genuine rice spirit and at much the same price. Part is due to a feeling that good spirit cannot be made from any still not of ancient Chinese design. It is also probable that the insanitary conditions under which production in China is carried on adds the much prized 'bouquet' of musty antiquity, which is said to be lacking from much of the Hong Kong produced spirit.