1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1913.
291
31
The boycott of the Low Level Tramway which commenced in November of the preceding year came to an end in February. The Company received a grant from the Government amounting to $45,248 as partial compensation for the losses sustained.
With a view to obtaining a better control over the sale of prepared opium the Government decided to institute a Government monopoly of the sale of the prepared drug in the Colony on the expiration of the lease of the present Opium Farm. Mr. R. O. Hutchison, who was selected to inaugurate the monopoly, proceeded to the Straits Settlements in April to investigate the working of the system in that Colony and in the Federated Malay States.
Vigorous efforts were made in 1913 to check the smuggling of prepared opium out of the Colony to countries which prohibit the importation of the drug. The opium farmer was allowed to renew his lease of the Opium Farm for a further period of one year from the 1st March, 1913, but a special clause was inserted in the agreement reducing the amount of opium to be prepared in the Farm during the year from 900 chests to 540 chests for local consumption and 120 chests for export. The Opium Ordinance was also amended during the year in several important respects, the most noteworthy in this connection being the provision rendering it illegal for any person, other than the farmer or his licensees, to be in possession of a quantity exceeding 5 taels of opium. The results achieved have been satisfactory. Whereas in 1912 a number of ships from Hong Kong were fined heavily in Manila when opium was discovered on board, practically no such fines were reported in 1913. Twenty seizures, comprising 12,974 taels of prepared opium intended for illicit export, were made during the year.
The policy of the Government in controlling the importation and sale of morphine, compounds of opium, and cocaine was vigilantly maintained throughout the year, and the use of these drugs in the Colony is now exclusively confined to medical purposes. 5,584 ounces of morphine and 1,764 ounces of cocaine were seized during the year, all destined for China or neighbouring ports.
On the 15th December, M. Albert Sarraut, Governor-General of Indo-China, arrived in the Colony in the French flagship Montcalm on an official visit. He was accompanied by Rear-Admiral de Kerillis and the members of his staff. He was entertained during his stay by the Officer Administering the Government and Vice-Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram, Naval Commander-in-Chief, and left on the 20th December.
Mr. A. M. Thomson performed the duties of the Colonial Secretary during the period from January 1st to July 24th, when Mr. C. Severn was absent on leave, and subsequently from August 21st to December 25th, when Mr. Severn performed the functions of Officer Administering the Government in the absence of Sir F. H. May.
1904-1919
HONG KONG, 1913.
291
31
The boycott of the Low Level Tramway which commenced in November of the preceding year came to an end in February. The Company received a grant from the Government amounting to $45,248 as partial compensation for the losses sustained.
With a view to obtaining a better control over the sale of prepared opium the Government decided to institute a Government monopoly of the sale of the prepared drug in the Colony on the expiration of the lease of the present Opium Farm. Mr. R. O. Hutchison, who was selected to inaugurate the monopoly, proceeded to the Straits Settlements in April to investigate the working of the system in that Colony and in the Federated Malay States.
Vigorous efforts were made in 1913 to check the smuggling of prepared opium out of the Colony to countries which prohibit the importation of the drug. The opium farmer was allowed to renew his lease of the Opium Farm for a further period of one year from the 1st March, 1913, but a special clause was inserted in the agreement reducing the amount of opium to be prepared in the Farm during the year from 900 chests to 540 chests for local consumption and 120 chests for export. The Opium Ordinance was also amended during the year in several important respects, the most noteworthy in this connection being the provision rendering it illegal for any person, other than the farmer or his licensees, to be in possession of a quantity exceeding 5 taels of opium. The results achieved have been satisfactory. Whereas in 1912 a number of ships from Hong Kong were fined heavily in Manila when opium was discovered on board, practically no such fines were reported in 1913. Twenty seizures, comprising 12,974 taels of prepared opium intended for illicit export, were made during the year.
The policy of the Government in controlling the importation and sale of morphine, compounds of opium, and cocaine was vigilantly maintained throughout the year, and the use of these drugs in the Colony is now exclusively confined to medical purposes. 5,584 ounces of morphine and 1,764 ounces of cocaine were seized during the year, all destined for China or neighbouring ports.
On the 15th December, M. Albert Sarraut, Governor-General of Indo-China, arrived in the Colony in the French flagship Montcalm on an official visit. He was accompanied by Rear-Admiral de Kerillis and the members of his staff. He was entertained during his stay by the Officer Administering the Government and Vice-Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram, Naval Commander-in-Chief, and left on the 20th December.
Mr. A. M. Thomson performed the duties of the Colonial Secretary during the period from January 1st to July 24th, when Mr. C. Severn was absent on leave, and subsequently from August 21st to December 25th, when Mr. Severn performed the functions of Officer Administering the Government in the absence of Sir F. H. May.
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