Fuge.
Serial No.
From or to whom,
Dospatch Houpate
Data.
Bubject.
12
To Sir G. F. Bowan-
09
1884.
May 2
Requests an explanation of the very con- siderable falling off in the revenue for the last six months of the year.
12
24
To Sir Wm. Robinson
84
1892.
April 8
18
Sir G. F. Bowen
964
July 19 (Rec. Ang, 29.)
Transmits, with observations, copy of a memorandum by Mr. Rumell "on the opium revenue in which an explanation is given of the decline in the revenue during the latter half of the year,
12
Banctions the ordinacas enclosed in his Despatch of 7th December, and indicates various amendments which should be made therein if it should be decided to maintain the present system of farming
the revenue.
47
25
Ditto
85
April 9
14
To Sir G. F. Bowen.
290
September 26
Comments upon various points raised in the memorandum by Mr. Russell, and its appendices
14
Asks for his views on various points con- nected with the future regulation of the opium traffic.
48
26
To Sir C. C. Smith -
125
April 9
49
16
Sir G. F. Bowen
392
November 18 (Bec. Dec. 29.)
Replies to the Secretary of State's Despatch
of 26th September.
14
น
1885.
10
To Sir G. F. Bowen -
9
January 15
Explains the circumstances under which the Secretary of State had made certain observations in his Despatch of 26th September.
16
27
Sir C. C. Smith
60
17
Sir G. F. Bowen •
419
Dec. 26, 1884 (Reo. Jan. 81, 1885.).
Reports that, in view of a falling revenue, it has been decided to return to the old system of farming the opium revenue and that a tender for $159,000 has been socepted.
17
1898,
February 27 (Rec. Apr. 8.)
March 11 (Rec. Apr. 17.)
Transmite copy of a Despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong and asks for his (Sir C. Smith's) views on the various points raised thereon, so far as they are applicable to the position of affairs in the Straits.
Deprecates any attempt to prohibit opium smoking; discusses the suggestions put forward in Lord Hautsford's Dempsich of 9th April 1892 for the regulation of the traffic and states that his Govern- ment will take steps to effect, in tentative way, some of the reforms 'desired; · encloses copies of minutes by various government officers opposing any arbitrary interference with the trafic.
Observes that he will defer a final reply to the Secretary of State's Despatch of 8th April 1802 until he has had further time for consideration, but that there appears to be serious objection to any attempt to abolish the farming system į encloses copy of a minute by the Bagistrar- General on the question of the number of smoking divans, which in bis (the Governor's) opinion, is by no means excessive.
Expresses the opinion that the abolition of the farming system would, from every point of view, be the greatest possible mistake, and states the reasons which bave led him to that conclusion.
Forwards a paper of questions to be put to officials in Hong Kong and the Straits, relative to the consumption of opium in those Colonies.
50
73
75
79
18
To Sir G. F. Bowen -
27
February 7
Approves the acceptance of the offer of
$159,000 for the lease of the opium farm for the ensuing year.
19
28
Sir William Robinson
59
March 6
1801.
(Beo. Apr. 7.) Extract.
19
Sir. C. O, Smith
(Straits),
201
June 23 (Rec, July 21.)
Reports the new arrangements made for letting the Singapore and Penang opium and spirit farms.
19
90
To Sir C. C. Smith
264
August 18
20
21
Το
Sir William Robinson (Hong Kong).
283
October 31
29
Ditto
68
21
30
The Royal Commis-
sion on Opium.
Oct. 7
1892.
Deu. 7, 1891 (Beç. Jan. 17, 1892.)
January 22 (Rec. Fab. 26.)
Requests him to consider and report whether the farming system could be dispensed with or whether the existing arrangements could be modified in any other way so as to diminish the evils of the opium traffic without seriously crippling the revenue.
Requests him to consider whether it might not be possible to repeat the experiment of placing the traffic directly under the Government or by some other modifi- cation of the existing system to diminish the evils of the traffic without serionaly crippling the revenue.
Transmita, with observations thereon, copies of ordinances amending the law regarding the preparation and sale of opium.
Reports that after consultation with the Chief Justice (Sir Jas. Russell) he has come to the conclusion (in which con- clusion the Executive Council concurs) that it would be impossible to diminish the evil of the opium trafic by an aboli- tion of the existing system; encloses copy of a minute by the Chief Justion.
22
Acting
Barker
Governor (Hoog
391
Kong).
23
Sir William Robinson
26
Nov. 28 (Bec. Deo. 30.)
Transmita copy of a letter from the Royal Commission on Opium, and directs that steps be taken to obtain the information desired.
Transmita copy of a letter addressed to the Opium Commission by the Colonial Secretary, on the subject of the extent of the consumption of opfum in Hong Kong.
31
Acting
To Acting Governor
Maxwell (Siraita),
9781
and Sir William
Oot. 19
164]
Robinson
(Hong
21
Kong)
32
Sir William Robinson
227
48
80
81
ستنسيليسيا
1894.
33
Ditto
11
Jan. 16 (Rec. Feb. 19.)
34
Sir C. B. H. Mitchell
38
Feb. 12
(Rec. March 10.)]
b
Transmita copies of BILS WOVE to the
questions put by the Royal Commission.
Forwards replies to the questions asked
by the Royal Commission.
82
82
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882
5
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Berial
From or to whom.
No.
Despatch No.
Date.
Subject.
Page.
1894.
35
Sir C, B. H. Mitchell
70
March 8 (Rea. April 9.)
Forwards copies of Mr. Maxwell's resumé of replies to questions naked by the Royal Commission, with his own (Mr. Maxwell's) remarks thereon.
83
86
Ditto
245
Ang. 7 (Rec. Sept. 4.)
99
87
To Sir C. B. H. Mitchell]
841
Oct. 19
Forwards Ordinance No. IX. of 1894 "to #consolidate and ainend the law for "collecting & revenue of excise on opium, " and the preparations thereof." Sanctions Ordinance No. IX. of 1894, but instructs him to introduce a further ordinance amending section 17 in the sense indiested; draws attention to the large number of opium shops in Singapore as compared with Hong Kong, and expresses a hope that the number may be reduced.
114