III.—MOTOR SPIRIT.
5. The duty collected on Motor Spirit showed an increase, due to increased consumption.
IV. OPIUM.
6. Sales of Government opium again constituted a new low record, being not much more than half of the sales in 1933. This is probably explained by the continued unpopularity of the Government opium manufactured in the Singapore factory, the general financial stringency, and the continued extremely low prices of illicit opium of Chinese origin; for unfortunately no diminution in the number of opium-smokers was observed. The net revenue from opium, as shown in Table II, has now fallen to six hundred thousand dollars, but if the full cost of all the services rendered by Government in this connection is reckoned, it is apparent that the total cost is more than the revenue derived from this source.
Chinese Raw Opium.
7. In 1933 seizures of Chinese raw opium amounted to nearly 53,000 taels in over five hundred and seventy seizures. In the year under review nearly 83,000 taels, i.e., about 6,900 pounds, or three tons, were seized in nearly six hundred and twenty seizures. Of this quantity twenty major seizures accounted for nearly 63,000 taels, leaving an average of 33 taels per seizure in the minor cases, a quantity which, as pointed out in last year's report, is easily hidden on a smuggler's person or in his luggage, and arrests were made on the waterfront every day in this connection.
8. The largest seizure was one of 21,000 taels, contained in forty-eight kerosene tins found in a specially constructed secret compartment running the full length of a large fishing junk boarded when she was at anchor at Tsuen Wan. The compartment was big enough to hold a hundred tins, and it is believed that the junk had on a former occasion successfully run in a cargo of seventy-eight tins. The opium was said to have been loaded at a small port on the West River below Do Shing, and was probably of Yunnan origin. Two subordinates found on board were arrested, charged, and sentenced to a fine of $5,000 or a year's imprisonment each. Another large seizure, 17,400 taels, was made in the City of Victoria. The opium was concealed in cow hides, and had travelled thus from Yunnan via Haiphong. A Chinese male found in possession of the keys to the premises concerned was arrested and sentenced to a fine of $5,000 or a year's imprisonment. Two large lots were found dumped on the sea bed in the harbour, a common practice. One consignment, nearly 2,000 taels, was found concealed in the centres of pine logs brought down from Kwangsi. The logs had been hollowed out skilfully, and the opium most cunningly concealed, 200 taels at a time, in large tin canisters. The logs
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III.-MOTOR SPIRIT.
5. The duty collected on Motor Spirit showed an increase, due to increased consumption.
IV. OPIUM.
6. Sales of Government opium again constituted a new low record, being not much more than half of the sales in 1933. This is probably explained by the continued unpopularity of the Government opium manufactured in the Singapore factory, the general financial stringency, and the continued extremely low prices of illicit opium of Chinese origin; for unfortunately no diminution in the number of opium-smokers was observed. The net revenue from opium, as shown in Table II, has now fallen to six hundred thousand dollars, but if the full cost of all the services rendered by Government in this connection is reckoned, it is apparent that the total cost is more than the revenue derived from this source.
Chinese Raw Opium.
7. In 1933 seizures of Chinese raw opium amounted to nearly 53,000 taels in over five hundred and seventy seizures. In the year under review nearly 83,000 taels, i.e., about 6,900 pounds, or three tons, were seized in nearly six hundred and twenty seizures. Of this quantity twenty major seizures accounted for nearly 63,000 taels, leaving an average of 33 taels per seizure in the minor cases, a quantity which, as pointed out in last year's report, is easily hidden on a smuggler's person or in his luggage, and arrests were made on the waterfront every day in this connection.
The
8. The largest seizure was one of 21,000 taels, contained in forty-eight kerosene tins found in a specially constructed secret compartment running the full length of a large fishing junk boarded when she was at anchor at Tsuen Wan. compartment was big enough to hold a hundred tins, and it is believed that the junk had on a former occasion successfully run in a cargo of seventy-eight tins. The opium was said to have been loaded at a small port on the West River below Do Shing, and was probably of Yunnan origin. Two subordinates found on board were arrested, charged, and sentenced to a fine of $5,000 or a year's imprisonment each. Another large seizure, 17,400 taels, was made in the City of Victoria. The opium was concealed in cow hides, and had travelled thus from Yunnan vid Haiphong. A Chinese male found in possession of the keys to the premises concerned was arrested and sentenced to a fine of $5,000 or a year's imprisonment. Two large lots were found dumped on the sea bed in the harbour, a common practice. One consignment, nearly 2,000 taels, was found concealed in the centres of pine logs brought down from Kwangsi. The logs had been hollowed out skilfully, and the opium most cunningly concealed, 200 taels at a time, in large tin canisters. The logs
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