CO129-153 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [11-12] — Page 54

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plan,

for suggesting the fiben now to be adopted, which is to take effect

without delays

Jam not aware that a

Case ana

logous to

our own is to

be found in the world. There

are mo

base

an

dents on which to

presedents

- argument for or against the course which has been assumed by the Chinese Government, and

it must be considered on its merits.

The orders

given

relate only to the collection of r duty on Opium conveyed in. Chinese bottoms from Hong Kong, and this duty is collected by the Chinese Customs, the Foreign

(

Customs bring alone concerned

with the duties leviable,

OZ

goods

imported and exported in Foreign

bottoms.

It is calculated that about thirty thousand Chests of Opium

this

are annually smuggled from Port into the neighbouring Chinese Territory,

and it is with a view of

increasing the legitimate

revenue

of the Empire by the duty to be collected from this lurge amount. of Opium that the present orders__ have been issued for drawing tightly the line of blockade round the Island: The Government -admits its inability to collect its

Anore

Î