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had to be sawn open to extract the tins. In another case close on 2,000 taels were discovered hidden in large hollowed logs which had been burnt on the outside to resemble charcoal, in a consignment of which they were included.
9. The retail price of Chinese raw opium appears to have been a little lower than in 1933, averaging about $1.90 a tael. The supply was, if anything, even more plentiful than in 1933, and reports on production in Yunnan and movement down through Kwangsi and other parts showed that there was every reason to expect such a condition of the market. The "South China Morning Post" of the 11th of December, 1934, reported the arrival at Poseh in Western Kwangsi of sixteen hundred cases of raw Yunnan Opium, containing about 1,800,000 taels.
Persian Raw Opium.
44
10. There were five major seizures of Persian raw opium, none of which was made on the importing vessel. All these consignments were, as far as could be ascertained, destined for places overseas: Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and China coastal ports. The largest seizure was one of 1,440 taels, found, together with other unmanifested cargo, concealed in a water tank deep in the engine-room of the s.s. "Hai Ning."
11.
Prepared Opium.
In 1933 over eighteen hundred seizures of prepared opium yielded a little under 19,500 taels. In 1934 a little over half that number of seizures yielded over 22,500 taels, i.e., a quantity approaching two thousand pounds. This quantity included seven major seizures involving 16,620 taels. Thus minor seizures accounted for 6,103 taels, an average of 6.4 taels per minor seizure. Of the major seizures five were of the Red Lion brand, of which the largest was a consignment of 4,500 taels found in the s.s. "Hero" bound for Singapore via Hongay. The opium was found covered with coal in the bunkers, next to the bulk-heads. Of the other two major seizures, one was of 5,230 taels of Kwang Chow Wan opium, recovered from the harbour bed, and the other of 3,390 taels of Macao opium, destined for export to Australia. Most of the opium shown in Table XIV as being of doubtful origin was found in divans and had been prepared on the premises or elsewhere in the Colony from Chinese raw opium.
12. The average price of illicit prepared opium in Hong Kong during the year was H.K.$3.50.
Opium Divans.
13. As will have been inferred from preceding paragraphs, there was no slackening of the trade in illicit opium. A mushroom growth of divans continued to flourish in the crowded quarters of Victoria and Kowloon, and raids made daily never
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had to be sawn open to extract the tins. In another case close on 2,000 taels were discovered hidden in large hollowed logs which had been burnt on the outside to resemble charcoal, in a consignment of which they were included.
9. The retail price of Chinese raw opium appears to have been a little lower than in 1933, averaging about $1.90 a tael. The supply was, if anything, even more plentiful than in 1933, and reports on production in Yunnan and movement down through Kwangsi and other parts showed that there was every reason to expect such a condition of the market. The South China Morning Post" of the 11th of December, 1934, reported the arrival at Poseh in Western Kwangsi of sixteen hundred cases of raw Yunnan Opium, containing about 1,800,000 taels.
Persian Raw Opium.
44
10. There were five major seizures of Persian raw opium, none of which was made on the importing vessel. All these consignments were, as far as could be ascertained, destined for places overseas : Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, and China coastal ports. The largest seizure was one of 1,440 taels, found, together with other unmanifested cargo, concealed in a water tank deep in the engine-room of the s.s.
"Hai Ning."
11.
Prepared Opium.
In 1933 over eighteen hundred seizures of prepared opium yielded a little under 19,500 taels. In 1934 a little over half that number of seizurss yielded over 22,500 taels, i.e., a quantity approaching two thousand pounds. This quantity in- cluded seven major seizures involving 16,620 taels. Thus minor seizures accounted for 6,103 taels, an average of 6.4 taels per minor seizure. Of the major seizures five were of the Red Lion brand, of which the largest was a consignment of 4,500 taels found in the s.s. "Hero" bound for Singapore vid Hongay. The opium was found covered with coal in the bunkers, next to the bulk-heads. Of the other two major
seizures, one was of 5,230 taels of Kwang Chow Wan opium, recovered from the harbour bed, and the other of 3,390 taels of Macao opium, destined for export to Australia. Most of the opium shown in Table XIV as being of doubtful origin was found in divans and had been prepared on the premises or else- where in the Colony from Chinese raw opium.
> J
12. The average price of illicit prepared opium in Hong Kong during the year was H.K.$3.50.
Opium Divans.
13. As will have been inferred from preceding paragraphs, there was no slackening of the trade in illicit opium. A mush- room growth of divans continued to flourish in the crowded quarters of Victoria and Kowloon, and raids made daily never
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