E 6
Alteration of European Liquor.
Several complaints were received of the adulteration of European type liquor sold in Hotels, but little can be done to combat this evil until greater powers of inspection and sampling have been granted to this department. In certain cases the importation for local sale of spirits of continental origin posing as whisky was prevented. A good deal of compounded cheap spirit is sold surreptitiously as Hennessy's 3 star brandy, in genuine bottles bearing carefully forged labels, which are very hard to detect. One source of this stuff was discovered during the year, and the Chinese firm concerned has since gone into bankruptcy. It is probable that most of such bogus brandy never pays any duty.
II. TOBACCO.
The net revenue collected during the year was $1,796,858.52 as compared with $2,007,105.01 in 1924.
In spite of the loss of population caused by the political unrest in the summer, the collection of duty remained fairly satisfactory. This is explained by the closing of most avenues for smuggling by the boycott, which also prevented the sale in China of the brands of the British American Tobacco Co., the brands chiefly handled by the smuggler.
A marked improvement was shown by many of the smaller Chinese manufacturers in the conduct of their business, due to the strenuous efforts of Revenue Officer Pearse, the officer in charge, to introduce an orderly system to facilitate better control.
III. OPIUM.
The gross revenue was $3,466,521.00 as compared with $5,224,303.65 in 1924. By the time the political trouble had commenced in June, sales had already decreased to about 5,000 taels per week; for the remainder of the year they remained fairly steady at about 4,000 taels. The great decrease is partly due to the political troubles, partly to the large amounts of cheap Chinese opium of innumerable brands which were on sale at a fraction of the Government price, and partly to the large amounts of Macau Opium which were imported into the Colony by every ship and junk leaving that port; this opium is sold in several grades, so that all classes of smokers are accommodated. The best grade contained a high percentage of Indian opium, and even fastidious wealthy smokers do not scruple to consume this brand in preference to the dearer Hong Kong opium on account of the difference in cost.
E 6
Alteration of European Liquor.
Several complaints were received of the adulteration of European type liquor sold in Hotels, but little can be done to combat this evil until greater powers of inspection and sampling have been granted to this department. In certain cases the im- portation for local sale of spirits of continental origin posing as whisky was prevented. A good deal of coinpounded cheap spirit is sold surreptitiously as Hennessy's 3 star brandy, in genuine bottles bearing carefully forged labels, which are very hard to detect. One source of this stuff was discovered during the year, and the Chinese firm concerned has since gone into bankruptcy. It is probable that most of such bogus brandy never pays any duty.
II. TOBACCO.
The net revenue collected during the year was $1,796,858.52 as compared with $2,007,105.01 in 1924.
In spite of the loss of population caused by the political unrest in the summer, the collection of duty remained fairly satisfactory. This is explained by the closing of most avenues for smuggling by the boycott, which also prevented the sale in China of the brands of the British American Tobacco Co., the brands chiefly handled by the smuggler.
A marked improvement was shown by many of the smaller Chinese manufacturers in the conduct of their business, due to the strenuous efforts of Revenue Officer Pearse the officer in charge, to introduce an orderly system to facilitate better control.
III. OPIUM.
The gross revenue was $3,466,521.00 as compared with $5,224,303.65 in 1924. By the time the political trouble hal commenced in June sales had already decreased to about 5,000 taels per week, for the remainder of the year they remained fairly steady at about 4,000 taels. The great decrease is partly due to the Political troubles, partly to the large amounts of cheap Chinese opium of innumerable brands which were on sale at a fraction of the Government price, and partly to
to the large amounts of Macau Opium which were imported into the Colony by every ship and junk leaving that port, this opium is sold in several grades, so that all classes of smokers are accommodated, the best grade contained a high percentage of Indian opium, and even fastidious wealthy smokers do not scruple to consume this brand in preference to the dearer Hong Kong opium on account of the difference in cost.
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