HKG-CAR1844-1886 — Page 616

1841-1886

597

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The had an opportunity of testing, and I find they were perfectly accurate. The independent testimony I have obtained of the officers of the Chinese Maritime Customs. Fortunately, the Opium farm was sold—not upon the data furnished by Mr. S—ought to have realised a far larger sum.

How ought an Opium farm to be sold? If you get a number of tenders, all genuine, you are very likely to be mistaken. If, on the other hand, you adopt the method the Singapore Government threatened to do, which the Government of Saigon threatened, and which has been done before now by the authorities in Netherlands-India, where they have 300,000 Chinese to deal with, or what I myself had to do in Labuan,—then indeed you sell it in a way which enables you to get at its fair value, and which compels the Chinese to give the Government the fair proportion they should of a great business and large profit. To the little Colony at the other side of the China Sea, $440 a month was received. It had been $450 a month, but the farmer went to my predecessor, and explained he was being ruined.

Fortunately, on passing through Singapore, I had the opportunity of seeing HARRY ORD, who pointed out to me the proper way of dealing with the Opium farm. On my arrival in Labuan, I had the satisfaction of learning from one or two of the merchants that they were really willing to give me the best advice and assistance in the question. I well remember one of them (Mr. Choa Mansoo) came to me at Government House and said—"The Opium farm is undersold. If you choose to take it into your own hands, and have a superintendent boil the Opium, instead of selling it at $440 you will be entitled to get much more." He gave me his figures. He said the number of Chinese is so much, the export of chandu is so much, the Government is entitled to expect a fair share, and the farmer will have his profit.

The result was that in a few weeks the Opium farmer came again. He then offered $800, and before the end of the year, when well acquainted with it, he offered $1,000; and before I left that little Colony, for $1,450 a month. Thoroughly competent judges—I need not say—that your Opium farm, instead of declining, ought to have been increasing. $132,000 ought to have fetched nearer a quarter of a million this year. Some said they would exact a larger share of the profits some of the Chinese in Johore would make all the Chandoo, and that the Singapore Government would increase the value of the farm: and to me in Labuan it was also said that the Opium farms in Brunei would suffer if I persisted in asking more than a certain amount. Such things are always said, and I believe they have been said here. I have dealt with them, and no anticipation of what might occur at Macao or elsewhere.

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