14. A comparatively small amount of cigarettes was smuggled during the year due mostly to the fact that although a slightly higher tariff was imposed, the price of cigarettes manufactured locally remained practically unchanged. On the other hand Chinese style manufactured tobacco was persistently smuggled by the crews of River Steamers, by travelling traders and by sampans from Macao to Cheung Chau. The travelling-trader fraternity—women included—smuggles goods in small quantities into China and in order not to return to Hong Kong empty-handed, tobacco in small quantities is introduced in the hope of getting through the search party on the wharves. Many of these people arrive on the night steamer and remain on board until daylight. If a search is made of the vessel on arrival the tobacco is hidden or discarded, and if it is not picked up by the Revenue staff it is later retrieved with the object of somehow getting it ashore.
15. Smuggling of tobacco by fishing boats to Cheung Chau for distribution there and at Aberdeen is on a well-organized basis. When a cargo arrived it was quickly transferred to several untenanted huts and repacked into small lots. Although some arrests were made, it was unusual to find the huts tenanted when a raid was carried out.
III. MOTOR SPIRIT.
16. As a result of a slight increase in the duty on Motor Spirit the revenue return is slightly higher.
IV. OPIUM.
17. The total amount of prepared opium sold amounted only to 15,496 taels which is a new low record. In April of this year the price of Government Opium was reduced from $17 per tael to $12 per tael. It was hoped by reduction of the price per tael to do something to counter the traffic in cheap illicit opium, but although sales for the year increased by some 120 taels the income for the year was reduced by $41,622. Even the sale of Kam Shan Opium, which is a luxury brand reserved for specially registered smokers, showed a decrease of some 1,900 taels, resulting in a further drop in comparison with last year of $51,040.
18. It must again be emphasized that the severe decline in revenue means that Government is now subsidizing opium preventive work to such an extent that the expenditure more than offsets the income.
19. The only real explanation of this decline seems to be the increased use of smuggled opium and the overwhelming growth of the menace of heroin pills. There is no doubt that the population here has not yet acquired the taste for Singapore opium, and the reason given in the past has been the use of Persian opium in the blend. This year, however, owing to the failure in the supplies of Chinese opium, most of the illicit opium must have been Persian so that the objection to Government opium may really be the price rather than the taste.
- E 3
14. A comparatively small amount of cigarettes was smuggled during the year due mostly to the fact that although a slightly higher tariff was imposed, the price of cigarettes manu- factured locally remained practically unchanged. On the other hand Chinese style manufactured tobacco
manufactured tobacco was persistently smuggled by the crews of River Steamers, by travelling traders and by sampans from Macao to Cheung Chau. The travelling- trader fraternity-women included--smuggles goods in small quantities into China and in order not to return to Hong Kong empty-handed, tobacco in small quantities is introduced in the hope of getting through the search party on the wharves. Many of these people arrive on the night steamer and remain on board until daylight. If a search is inade of the vessel on arrival the tobacco is hidden or discarded, and if it is not picked up by the Revenue staff it is later retrieved with the object of somehow getting it ashore.
15. Smuggling of tobacco by fishing boats to Cheung Chau for distribution there and at Aberdeen is on a well-organized basis. When a cargo arrived it was quickly transferred to several untenanted huts and repacked into small lots. Al- though some arrests were made, it was unusual to find the huts tenanted when a raid was carried out.
III. MOTOR SPIRIT.
16. As a result of a slight increase in the duty on Motor Spirit the revenue return is slightly higher.
IV. OPIUM.
17. The total amount of prepared opium sold amounted only to 15,496 taels which is a new low record. In April of this year the price of Government Opium was reduced from $17 per tael to $12 per tael. It was hoped by reduction of the price per tael to do something to counter the traffic in cheap illicit opium, but although sales for the year increased by some 120 taels the income for the year was reduced by $41,622. Even the sale of Kam Shan Opium, which is a luxury brand reserved for specially registered smokers, showed a decrease of some 1,900 taels, resulting in a further drop in comparison with last year of $51,040.
18. It must again be emphasized that the severe decline in revenue means that Government is now subsidizing opium preventive work to such an extent that the expenditure more than offsets the income.
19. The only real explanation of this decline seems to be the increased use of smuggled opium and the overwhelming growth of the menace of heroin pills. There is no doubt that the population here has not yet acquired the taste for Singapore opium, and the reason given in the past has been the use of Persian opium in the blend. This year, however, owing to the failure in the supplies of Chinese opium, most of the illicit opium must have been Persian so that the objection to Govern- ment opium may really be the price rather than the taste.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.