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(d) Distilleries have been given every chance to prove their good faith and have hitherto been allowed to carry on with their old methods systematised only to further control. The present distillery regulations are based on the old Chinese methods, and would be effective if honestly observed. New and more stringent regulations are now called for, which will prevent the prevailing dishonesty. Such regulations must follow those found effective in other countries, and will prevent distilleries from being run in the haphazard manner so common in the past.
3. Retail Shops.-Several liquor shops were convicted for various offences. One was caught red-handed soaking off duty-paid labels, with the idea of returning them to the distillery which would use them again on spirit which had evaded duty. This practice is very common, and only in cases where the spirit covered by the re-used labels differs in quality or strength from that originally covered is it possible to be sure of a conviction. Damage to labels is always ascribed to the avidity of cockroaches for duty-paid labels.
Another liquor shop was found to have disposed of 32,000 gallons of spirit which had been obtained from a secret source. Every one connected with this shop disappeared before a case could be brought before the Court.
4. Spirits of Wine.--Smuggling of spirits of wine was very prevalent. This all came from Macau. Spirits of Wine are used extensively in Macau distilleries and shops for the purpose of producing a cheap spirit by blending. Bogus Northern spirits such as Ng Ka Pei are made from spirits of wine in Macau and exported abroad to Malaya and elsewhere.
5. Chinese Liquor.-Smuggling of Chinese spirit continued on a large scale, seizures by Revenue Officers amounting to 6,013 gallons, and by the Police to 678 gallons. Most of the liquor seized proved to be a mixture of spirits of wine and a little rice spirit. It nearly all originated in Macau, and could be concocted for about 25 cents a gallon. Such an inferior product finds a ready sale amongst the coolie class, who are content with any kind of spirit so long as it is cheap, and has a sharp bite in it.
6. Legislation. Towards the end of the year the revision of the warehouse regulations mentioned in my report for 1928 received sanction. They were based on the existing local regulations and on those in force in England, and introduced nothing new. The chief effect was to bring the control of general bonded warehouses in line with the practice obtaining in the United Kingdom and to concentrate the storage of dutiable goods in particular portions of the licensed premises in order to facilitate supervision.
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(d) Distilleries have been given every chance to prove their good faith and have hitherto been allowed to carry on with their old methods systematised only to further control. The present distillery regulations are based on the old Chinese methods, and would be effective if honestly observed. New and more stringent regulations are now called for, which will prevent the prevailing dishonesty. Such regulations must follow those found effective in other countries, and will prevent distilleries from being run in the haphazard manner so common in the past.
3. Retail Shops.-Several liquor shops were convicted for various offences. One was caught red-handed soaking off duty- paid labels, with the idea of returning them to the distillery which would use them again on spirit which had evaded duty. This practice is very common, and only in cases where the spirit covered by the re-used labels differs in quality or strength from that originally covered is it possible to be sure of a conviction. Damage to labels is always ascribed to the avidity of cockroaches for duty-paid labeis.
Another liquor shop was found to have disposed of 32,000 gallons of spirit which had been obtained from a secret source. Every one connected with this shop disappeared before a case could be brought before the Court.
4. Spirits of Wine.--Smuggling of spirits of wine was very prevalent. This all came from Macau. Spirits of Wine are used extensively in Macau distilleries and shops for the purpose of producing a cheap spirit by blending. Bogus Northern spirits such as Ng Ka Pei are made from spirits of wine in Macau and exported abroad to Malaya and elsewhere.
5. Chinese Liquor.-Smuggling of Chinese spirit continued on a large scale, seizures by Revenue Officers amounting to 6,013 gallons, and by the Folice to 678 gallons. Most of the liquor seized proved to be a mixture of spirits of wine and a little rice spirit. It nearly all originated in Macau, and could be concocted for about 25 cents a gallon. Such an inferior product finds a ready sale amongst the coolie class, who are content with any kind of spirit so long as it is cheap, and has a sharp bite in it.
6. Legislation. Towards the end of the year the revision of the warehouse regulations mentioned in my report for 1928 received sanction. They were based on the existing local regulations and on those in force in England. and introduced nothing new. The chief effect was to bring the control of general bonded warehouses in line with the practice obtaining in the United Kingdom and to concentrate the storage of dutiable goods in particular portions of the licensed premises in order to facilitate supervisior.
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