CO129-153 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [11-12] — Page 58

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the smuggling of Opium, in which

Comparatively a few

are

engaged.

The local trade in Opium,

which is carrived on

by the native merchants, is I believe of little

importance compared

: compared with the general interest of the Chinese here who are otherwise engaged in business. Nor can this Government desire to render

them

duty

any

an

aid in evading the

what is

exported. Now this duty is the import duty of -China, and is so valuable that

there is little doubt of the Chinese Government being willing to sacrifice a great deal so as

to collect in its entirety all that

aught to find its way into their

Fre

said,

If, therefore, as I have

rve are i

the remova

removal

unable to obtain

..)

oval of the Revenue Stations

and Cruizers, which

are now to be

largely increased in number, I would urge the advisability

of opening the Imperial Government with a view to allowing establishment of the Fareign Customs in Hong Kong for the sole collection of duty on Opium to be imported into the Qur Hwang

Communications with

Provinces on

the conditiones sketched