HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 615

Administrative Reports 行政報告書 All AI Reviewed

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH NOVEMBER, 1877. 523

the spirit retailers', the pawnbrokers', and the Opium farm. Now, in every Eastern Colony they have licences or farms of this kind. I had to deal with the little Colony of Labuan, and had opportunities of consulting the neighbouring Governors, the Governors of Singapore and Saigon, and others interested in the management of such revenue farms. It is of importance to know whether these farms really bring us in the proper amount of money. Now, what has happened about the Opium farm? It fetched in 1875, $137,000 for the whole year; in 1876, $133,000; and this year we will receive only $132,000. The Opium farm is declining in value, because it has been sold to the Opium farmer at a slight falling-off in value. Well, it is a curious fact that, while the Opium farm has been declining in value, the number of chests of Opium forwarded to this Colony have been increasing year by year. It is very remarkable that our trade in Opium, with California, Australia, and a few other places, has been increasing, that our Chinese population has not been declining, and that nevertheless our Opium farm has been declining. What has happened in the Straits Settlements? The farms there sold in '76 for $837,000. They have been re-let now for $1,020,000, the increase in all the Penang farms being $161,000, and in the Singapore Opium farm $28,000. Whilst they have been increasing, we have been falling back. In Hongkong, there are 130,000 Chinese; in the Straits Settlements, 104,000. How is this to be accounted for? There are three means of ascertaining what really is the amount of Opium consumed by the Chinese, and what the Opium farmer ought to divide with the Government. The first depends upon having an intimate business knowledge of the Chinese, of understanding especially the means they have of dealing with questions of this kind, in short to have that genuine acquaintance with the trading operations of the Chinese, which would enable the Government to form itself an independent opinion. In addition to that, it is important to have before the Government, authentic facts and opinions from the European houses importing Opium, finally the Hongkong Government is in a position to obtain information from the Chinese Maritime Customs, who have accurate means of knowing the number of chests of Opium consumed in this Colony. With these three sources of information at the disposal of the Government, the Opium farm ought to sell for its proper value. Now, what had the Government before it when the farm was sold? The knowledge, somewhat imperfect, I fear, of the Chinese, of their business habits which they would endeavour to get this farm. The Government also had before it the opinions of European importers of the drug into the Colony. But the Government had no information from the Chinese Maritime Customs' officers. Now, with respect to information obtained from European houses; in looking through the papers on the subject,

The facts he laid

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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH NOVEMBER, 1877. 523 the spirit retailers', the pawnbrokers', and the Opium farm. Now, in every Eastern Colony they have licences or farms of this kind. I had to deal with the little Colony of Labuan, and had opportunities of consulting the neighbouring Governors, the Governors of Singapore and Saigon, and others interested in the management of such revenue farms. It is of importance to know whether these farms really bring us in the proper amount of money. Now, what has happened about the Opium farm? It fetched in 1875, $137,000 for the whole year; in 1876, $133,000; and this year we will receive only $132,000. The Opium farm is declining in value, because it has been sold to the Opium farmer at a slight falling-off in value. Well, it is a curious fact that, while the Opium farm has been declining in value, the number of chests of Opium forwarded to this Colony have been increasing year by year. It is very remarkable that our trade in Opium, with California, Australia, and a few other places, has been increasing, that our Chinese population has not been declining, and that nevertheless our Opium farm has been declining. What has happened in the Straits Settlements? The farms there sold in '76 for $837,000. They have been re-let now for $1,020,000, the increase in all the Penang farms being $161,000, and in the Singapore Opium farm $28,000. Whilst they have been increasing, we have been falling back. In Hongkong, there are 130,000 Chinese; in the Straits Settlements, 104,000. How is this to be accounted for? There are three means of ascertaining what really is the amount of Opium consumed by the Chinese, and what the Opium farmer ought to divide with the Government. The first depends upon having an intimate business knowledge of the Chinese, of understanding especially the means they have of dealing with questions of this kind, in short to have that genuine acquaintance with the trading operations of the Chinese, which would enable the Government to form itself an independent opinion. In addition to that, it is important to have before the Government, authentic facts and opinions from the European houses importing Opium, finally the Hongkong Government is in a position to obtain information from the Chinese Maritime Customs, who have accurate means of knowing the number of chests of Opium consumed in this Colony. With these three sources of information at the disposal of the Government, the Opium farm ought to sell for its proper value. Now, what had the Government before it when the farm was sold? The knowledge, somewhat imperfect, I fear, of the Chinese, of their business habits which they would endeavour to get this farm. The Government also had before it the opinions of European importers of the drug into the Colony. But the Government had no information from the Chinese Maritime Customs' officers. Now, with respect to information obtained from European houses; in looking through the papers on the subject, The facts he laid [Original document damaged in file] Page 615 Page 616

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f 596 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH NOVEMBER, 1877. 523 e the spirit retailers', the pawnbrokers', and the Opium farm. Now, in every Eastern Colony they vé licences or farms of this kind. I had to deal with the little Colony of Labuan, and had opportunities consulting the neighbouring Governors, the Governors of Singapore and Saigon, and others terested in the management of such revenue farms. It is of importance to know whether these farms ally bring us in the proper amount of money. Now, what has happened about the Opium farm? fetched in 1875, $137,000 for the whole year; in 1876, $133,000; and this year we will receive from only $132,000. The Opium farm is declining in value, because it has been sold to the Opium farmer a slight falling-off in value. Well, it is a curious fact that, while the Opium farm has been declining value, the number of chests of Opium forwarded to this Colony have been increasing year by year. is very remarkable that our trade in Opium, with California, Australia, and a few other places, has een increasing, that our Chinese population has not been declining, and that nevertheless our Opium m has been declining. What has happened in the Straits Settlements? The farms there sold in 76 for $837,000. They have been re-let now for $1,020,000, the increase in all the Penang farms being $161,000, and in the Singapore Opium farm $28,000. Whilst they have been increasing, we have been falling back. In Hongkong, there are 130,000 Chinese; in the Straits Settlements, 104,000. How is this to be accounted for? There are three means of ascertaining what really is the amount of ium consumed by the Chinese, and what the Opium farmer ought to divide with the Government. Je first depends upon having an intimate business knowledge of the Chinese, of understanding pecially the means they have of dealing with questions of this kind, in short to have that genuine uaintance with the trading operations of the Chinese, which would enable the Government to form itself an independent opinion. In addition to that, it is important to have before the Government, hentic facts and opinions from the European houses importing Opium, finally the Hongkong vernment is in a position to obtain information from the Chinese Maritime Customs, who have accurate means of knowing the number of chests of Opium consumed in this Colony. With these three arces of information at the disposal of the Government, the Opium farm ought to sell for its proper Now, what had the Government before it when the farm was sold? Th knowledge somewhat imperfect, I fear, of the Chinese, of their business habite ich they would endeavour to get this farm. The Government also had before ling European importers of the drug into the Colony. But the Government any information from the Chinese Maritime Custons' officers. Now, with res hined from European houses; in looking through the papers on the subject, value. finfor ume oØN iontod hu M» S、ec The facts he laid [Original document damaged in file] Page 615Page 616

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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH NOVEMBER, 1877. 523

e the spirit retailers', the pawnbrokers', and the Opium farm. Now, in every Eastern Colony they vé licences or farms of this kind. I had to deal with the little Colony of Labuan, and had opportunities consulting the neighbouring Governors, the Governors of Singapore and Saigon, and others terested in the management of such revenue farms. It is of importance to know whether these farms ally bring us in the proper amount of money. Now, what has happened about the Opium farm? fetched in 1875, $137,000 for the whole year; in 1876, $133,000; and this year we will receive from only $132,000. The Opium farm is declining in value, because it has been sold to the Opium farmer a slight falling-off in value. Well, it is a curious fact that, while the Opium farm has been declining value, the number of chests of Opium forwarded to this Colony have been increasing year by year. is very remarkable that our trade in Opium, with California, Australia, and a few other places, has een increasing, that our Chinese population has not been declining, and that nevertheless our Opium m has been declining. What has happened in the Straits Settlements? The farms there sold in 76 for $837,000. They have been re-let now for $1,020,000, the increase in all the Penang farms being $161,000, and in the Singapore Opium farm $28,000. Whilst they have been increasing, we have been falling back. In Hongkong, there are 130,000 Chinese; in the Straits Settlements, 104,000. How is this to be accounted for? There are three means of ascertaining what really is the amount of ium consumed by the Chinese, and what the Opium farmer ought to divide with the Government. Je first depends upon having an intimate business knowledge of the Chinese, of understanding pecially the means they have of dealing with questions of this kind, in short to have that genuine uaintance with the trading operations of the Chinese, which would enable the Government to form itself an independent opinion. In addition to that, it is important to have before the Government, hentic facts and opinions from the European houses importing Opium, finally the Hongkong vernment is in a position to obtain information from the Chinese Maritime Customs, who have accurate means of knowing the number of chests of Opium consumed in this Colony. With these three arces of information at the disposal of the Government, the Opium farm ought to sell for its proper Now, what had the Government before it when the farm was sold? Th knowledge somewhat imperfect, I fear, of the Chinese, of their business habite ich they would endeavour to get this farm. The Government also had before ling European importers of the drug into the Colony. But the Government any information from the Chinese Maritime Custons' officers. Now, with res hined from European houses; in looking through the papers on the subject,

value.

finfor

ume oØN

iontod hu M» S、ec

The facts he laid

[Original document damaged in file]

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