E 2
Smuggling of cigarettes as a result of low prices prevailing in local market has been on the down-grade, although at one time the low fares charged by the Railway and the Shipping Companies had reduced the cost of travel to and from Canton to such an extent that smuggling of Chinese tobacco became a paying proposition. Increased vigilance on the part of waterfront searchers and salutary fines by the Magistrates soon reduced the traffic to normal. Of the total quantity of tobacco seized 75% was brought in by the crews of steamers trading to Macao, Canton and other river ports.
III.--MOTOR SPIRIT.
The duty collected on Motor Spirit showed a slight decrease this year.
Car-owners in days of depression have had to resort to smaller cars, whilst the gradual conversion by the Bus Companies of their vehicles to Diesel engines has also contributed to the decreased sale of petrol. The opening of the New Peak Road which has cut down considerably the distance separating the upper residential area from the office area below may also have been a contributory influence.
IV.--OPIUM.
The total amount of prepared opium sold amounted only to 17,293 taels, the lowest on record. The net amount of revenue derived was $360,462, little more than half of last year's revenue from the same source. Of this sum, $179,680, about 49% of total income was received from the sale of Kam Shan Opium which is reserved for specially registered smokers less than one hundred in number. Such a serious decline in revenue means that Government is now subsidizing opium preventive work to the extent of nearly $400,000 a year. The explanation of the decline in Revenue lies partly in the continued unpopularity of Singapore opium which seems to be distasteful to the Chinese palate, partly in the plentiful supply of cheap illicit opium, mostly of Chinese origin, partly in the alarming increase in the use of heroin pills which are now among certain classes more favoured than opium, either licit or illicit, and partly owing to the fact that all classes have much less money to spend owing to the incidence of the Depression.
Chinese Raw Opium.
In 1934 seizures of Chinese Raw Opium amounted to nearly 88,000 taels, whilst in the year under review approximately 38,600 taels were seized in 564 seizures. The decline may be
E 2
Smuggling of cigarettes as a result of low prices pre- vailing in local market has been on the down-grade, although at one time the low fares charged by the Railway and the Shipping Companies had reduced the cost of travel to and from Canton to such an extent that smuggling of Chinese tobacco became a paying proposition. Increased vigilance on the part of waterfront searchers and salutary fines by the Magistrates soon reduced the traffic to normal. Of the total quantity of tobacco seized 75% was brought in by the crews of steamers trading to Macao, Canton and other river ports.
III.--MOTOR SPIRIT.
The duty collected on Motor Spirit showed a slight decrease this year.
Car-owners in days of depression have had to resort to smaller cars, whilst the gradual conversion by the Bus Com- panies of their vehicles to Diesel engines has also contributed to the decreased sale of petrol. The opening of the New Peak Road which has cut down considerably the distance separating the upper residential area from the office area below may also have been a contributory influence.
IV.-OPIUM,
The total amount of prepared opium sold amounted only to 17,293 taels, the lowest on record. The net amount of revenue derived was $360,462, little more than half of last year's revenue from the same source. Of this sum, $179,680, about 49% of total income was received from the sale of Kam Shan Opium which is reserved for specially registered smokers less than one hundred in number. Such a serious decline in revenue means that
means that Government is now subsidizing opium preventive work to the extent of nearly $400,000 a year. The explanation of the decline in Revenue lies partly in the continued unpopularity of Singapore opium which seems to be distasteful to the Chinese palate, partly in the plentiful supply of cheap illicit opium, mostly of Chinese origin, partly in the alarming increase in the use of heroin pills which are now among certain classes more favoured than opium, either licit or illicit, and partly owing to the fact that all classes have much less money to spend owing to the incidence of the Depression.
Chinese Raw Opium.
In 1934 seizures of Chinese Raw Opium amounted to nearly 88,000 taels, whilst in the year under review approximately 38,600 taels were seized in 564 seizures. The decline may be
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