I am confident any attempt on the part of the local farmers to take the Opium Monopoly into their own hands would fail.
It is only the most influential men in the secret societies among the Chinese who are found willing to undertake the responsibility as it requires all the power and interest which these societies possess to protect the farmer from the illicit preparation & sale of Opium.
Fire peculiar circumstances of security led me to object to the 4 year leasing, not being in any great extent in the dark, but still I cannot see that the Govt will gain any advantage by letting the Opium Farm for more than one year at a time. It must be borne in mind that these farms are always in the hands of the Chinese. During a failure of the Opium crop, or any other circumstances by which the farmer loses to such an extent that he is unable to carry the farm at the rental fixed, he will at once petition for either a reduction of the rent or to be relieved from his bargain, and it would be difficult not to accede to his petition in one way or other, as his alternative would be the Bankruptcy Court of which the Chinese are not slow to take advantage.
On the other hand, if the farm increases in value, the farmer will gain the entire benefit during the lease. Had the Opium Farm been let in one lease for the past four years, as is now proposed, the Govt must have gained considerably.
It is not likely that any offer made in 1887 would have been equivalent to 50 per cent upon the rental of 1886. The increase in the four years during the present lease will not be less than from $120,000 to $150,000.
There is every reason to assume that the sale of Opium will continue to increase in Hong Kong. The number of coasting vessels belonging to the Chinese is largely on the increase.
Page 503
MINUTE PAPER.
DEX.
I am convintttent any attempt part of the local fod to take the Apine Monopoly into its own hands would fail.
It is only the most influential men in the secret societies.
the chinese who among are found willing to undertable the responsibiblijn As it requires all the power a interest Wheele there societies possess to protect the farmer from the illicit preparation & sale of Chandos -
Fire peculiar araumstances of seuany,
Whil led me to object to the 4 gear leasing.
not beint to any peat ratent in
any preat retent in thong bat still Fannot see that foot will gain any advantage by letting the Opine Zarme for sore than one gear at a time. Stremat be borne in mind that there farms are always in the hands of the Chinese duphoning a failure of the Opium crop, on my other circumstances by which the farmer
lu bat.
loses to such an extent that he is unable to Marry
the farem at the rental fever He will at once petition for - wither for reduction of the rent or to be relieved from bus baspaine, a it would be difficult not
an
to
MINUTE PAPER.
503
accede to his Petition is one way other, as his alternative would be the Bankousting Court of which the chime are not & low :sit to take advantage.
on the otterhand the farm increases in value the farmer will pain the entire benefit during the bease, Had the Aokong from been let in one lease
the past four years, as is now proposed, the fost must have cont consideratty
during
a1
it is not likely that
this
any
2-1
offer made in 1887 would have been equivalent to 50 p.t vou
the rental of 1886 the increase in the four years
renany
the loss by the leasing system will not be less than prom $120000 to $150,000
Itrualder
duping the present Lease
There is
Every
to assume that
the sale of spuine will contine to increase
in 14. Kong. The number of coasting themes
H. belonging to the Chinese is largely a the Chiese from Maces to
tutre a
aring
DEX.
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