CO129-196 - Public Offices & Others - 1881 — Page 454

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

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Recently published Sir Thomas Wade points out that only about 94,000 piculs of opium actually arriving at Hongkong from India, some 25,000 piculs being transhipped or passed to other than Chinese open ports. Sir Thomas allows 7,500 for the Hongkong trade - that is for local consumption & Export as prepared opium and the balance of about 15,000 piculs he thinks enters China Coastwise. It has been the custom hitherto to assume that that large balance was smuggled into China because there was no record of it being transhipped from the Native Customs Authorities, but now it is shown by Mr. Thomas Wade that as much duty was paid in 1875-1876 to the Native Authorities on opium as was charged to smuggling.

I think the allowance of 7,500 piculs for the Hong Kong trade is considerably under the mark, and that for export & for local consumption boiled in Hong Kong there is more than 10,000 chests or piculs. I make this statement from information gained from the present farmers of the Hongkong monopoly.

The Opium farmers afford proof. The Colonel in his account states that the amount they paid for the monopoly of boiling opium was 10,000.

In 1879 the Opium farm of Hongkong passed into their hands, and the previous farmers established themselves at Macao where they successfully competed with the new Hongkong farmers and this led to the fact that they had the command of the American & Australian Markets, as none of the prepared opium could be sold in competition.

It now appears that during the year of such competition the present or new Hongkong farmers lost $150,000, whilst now that they and the Macao farmers have amalgamated, the farm is doing well. I was frequently told by the new farmers in 1879 that the local consumption in Hongkong paid them little, but that their chief profits were from Hongkong, San Francisco and Australia - the figures above mentioned seem to verify that statement, whilst it also supports the opinion that I have ventured to express, that Sir Thomas Wade in setting down 7,500 piculs for the Hongkong trade was considerably under the mark.

My object in calling attention to this subject is that it may be ascertained how far Hongkong will be affected by the duty on opium at present in force, or that if the San Francisco market is closed to the Hongkong farmers, the Colonial as well as the Indian Revenue must suffer considerably.

Russell
Col: Treasurer Hongkong.

Page 444

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Consumed cu chars hvo arc Retrom Recently published Sir Thomas Wade points out that only about 94,000 piculs of opium actually arriving at Hongkong from India, some 25,000 piculs being transhipped or passed to other than Chinese open ports. Sir Thomas allows 7,500 for the Hongkong trade - that is for local consumption & Export as prepared opium and the balance of about 15,000 piculs he thinks enters China Coastwise. It has been the custom hitherto to assume that that large balance was smuggled into China because there was no record of it being transhipped from the Native Customs Authorities, but now it is shown by Mr. Thomas Wade that as much duty was paid in 1875-1876 to the Native Authorities on opium as was charged to smuggling. I think the allowance of 7,500 piculs for the Hong Kong trade is considerably under the mark, and that for export & for local consumption boiled in Hong Kong there is more than 10,000 chests or piculs. I make this statement from information gained from the present farmers of the Hongkong monopoly. The Opium farmers afford proof. The Colonel in his account states that the amount they paid for the monopoly of boiling opium was 10,000. In 1879 the Opium farm of Hongkong passed into their hands, and the previous farmers established themselves at Macao where they successfully competed with the new Hongkong farmers and this led to the fact that they had the command of the American & Australian Markets, as none of the prepared opium could be sold in competition. It now appears that during the year of such competition the present or new Hongkong farmers lost $150,000, whilst now that they and the Macao farmers have amalgamated, the farm is doing well. I was frequently told by the new farmers in 1879 that the local consumption in Hongkong paid them little, but that their chief profits were from Hongkong, San Francisco and Australia - the figures above mentioned seem to verify that statement, whilst it also supports the opinion that I have ventured to express, that Sir Thomas Wade in setting down 7,500 piculs for the Hongkong trade was considerably under the mark. My object in calling attention to this subject is that it may be ascertained how far Hongkong will be affected by the duty on opium at present in force, or that if the San Francisco market is closed to the Hongkong farmers, the Colonial as well as the Indian Revenue must suffer considerably. Russell Col: Treasurer Hongkong. Page 444
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Consumed cu chars hvo arc Retrom Recently published Sir Thomas Wase points at that only about 94,000 picuts of apricum acumally arriving at- Hongkong from India some 25,000 prents Houghing or passes to other than Chenaue open ports. Sir Thomas allows 7.500 for the thongkong Frode - that is for local consumptio & Export as prepared opsieme and the balance of About 15,000 piculs he thinks Enters China Coasturice. It has been the custome hitherto basseuse that that love balance was smuggler inte because there Chance from Houghing from the Native Customs Authorities _ bote now it is Chewn bytic Momas Wade that as much pricals paid duty in 1875-1876 to the Native Authontièr Arducing by to sunch the quantity charged to Sonuggling I Kink there allowance of 7,500 piculo for the Hong Kong trade, is considerably under the local Consumptive mark, and that for déport & for boiled in Stronge leave than 10,000 Chests or picals Kong- Imake this statement from information gained from the present farmers of the Hongkong monopoly врач afford bepo, the Colonel account. I from Car the amount they Gut for the monopoly of boiling Byt as 10,000. In 1829 the Opium parum of Hougtong passed into her hands, and the previous formers Established themselves at braces where. } 444 they buccessfully competed with the new strangling farmer and this orting to the fact that they has the command _ of the American & Australian Markets _ por of conce opinum "Could not dead any prepared tott upping. It now appears that during me year of auch Competition the present مجھے or New Haughing Farinars Lost " 150,000, whilst now that they & the sua avs have amalgamate ated the farin is doing Opposition have - tobe wall - I was pequently told by the new Farmers in 1879 that the local consumption in Hagkong paid them little, but that their clief profits wen to hadpan San Francives and Australia _ the hour above mentimed coomed seem to verify that Statement, whilst it also supports the opinio that I have ventured tolexpress, that fir thommas wade in setting down $7,500 pients for the Bugtong Prade was considerably under the wash. My object in calling attention to this subject is that it maybe ascertained how for Haughing with be affected by the Inaty for it world at present San affe or that if the bar, Francives market in cloved to the Hougtong Farmers the Colonial as well as the Indian Revenue Must suffer Considerably. Hussell Col: Ireasurer Hayhong. y
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Recently published Sir Thomas Wase points at that only about 94,000 picuts of apricum acumally arriving at- Hongkong from India some 25,000 prents

Houghing or passes to other than Chenaue open ports. Sir Thomas allows 7.500 for the thongkong Frode - that is for local consumptio & Export as prepared opsieme and the balance of About 15,000 piculs he thinks Enters China Coasturice. It has been the custome hitherto basseuse that that love balance was smuggler inte

because there Chance from Houghing from the Native Customs Authorities _ bote now it is Chewn bytic Momas Wade that as much pricals paid duty in 1875-1876 to the Native Authontièr Arducing by to sunch the quantity charged to Sonuggling

I Kink there allowance of 7,500 piculo for the Hong Kong trade, is considerably under the

local Consumptive mark, and that for déport & for

boiled in Stronge leave than 10,000 Chests or picals Kong- Imake this statement from information gained from the present farmers of the Hongkong monopoly

врач afford bepo, the Colonel

account. I

from

Car

the amount they Gut for the monopoly of boiling

Byt

as 10,000.

In 1829 the Opium parum

of Hougtong passed into her hands, and the previous formers Established themselves at braces where.

}

444

they buccessfully competed with the new strangling farmer

and this orting

to the fact that they has the command

_

of the American & Australian Markets _ por of conce

opinum

"Could not dead

any prepared

tott upping.

It now appears that during me year of auch Competition the present

مجھے

or New Haughing

Farinars

Lost " 150,000, whilst now that they & the sua avs

have amalgamate

ated the farin is doing

Opposition have

-

tobe

wall - I was pequently told by the new Farmers in 1879 that the local consumption in Hagkong paid

them little, but that their clief profits wen to hadpan San Francives and Australia _ the hour above mentimed coomed seem to verify that Statement, whilst it also supports the opinio that I have ventured tolexpress, that fir thommas wade in setting down $7,500 pients for the Bugtong

Prade was

considerably

under the wash.

My object in calling attention to this subject is that it maybe ascertained how for Haughing with be affected by the Inaty for it world at present

San

affe or that if the bar, Francives market in cloved to the Hougtong

Farmers the Colonial as well as

the Indian Revenue Must suffer Considerably.

Hussell

Col: Ireasurer Hayhong.

y

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