560
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD NOVEMBER, 1872.
But, to be well within the mark, let the excess be taken as twenty-five per cent, the figures would then stand as follows:-
To Australia,
To California, 25 per cent more than above,
To Portland, &c.,
1,443 chests, 40 balls each - 57,760 balls at $3.80 each, Add for home consumption,
Taels 651,600
Taels 814,500 50,000
Taels 1,516,100
$219,339.80 22,884.00
$242,223.80
Then comes the question, as to whether the entire quantity shipped from this Port to above places, is prepared by the Monopolists; several of the witnesses have stated that Opium is prepared in the Colony clandestinely, and also that it is brought into the Colony, and exported in like manner without paying license fees, but none of them were able to give any data of the quantity. The Commission give it as their opinion, that, allowing for the vigilance of the Monopolists' informers, the quantity cannot be very large. The Commission may, of course, be wrong in this opinion, and in that view, can but suggest, as the only method of arriving at the correct state of affairs, that the Government take the Opium Monopoly into its own hands, and by establishing one or more boiling establishments under its own supervision, making these the only places at which it shall be legal to boil Opium, charging duty by the ball or by the tael after boiling, or both, as may appear most advantageous. By the evidence of one of the witnesses, the cost of this supervision and the staff requisite to prevent illicit boiling would be amply covered by the increased receipts. In the event of such a scheme being tried, the Commission would suggest as a means of detecting illicitly boiled Opium, that a Government stamp should be put upon each tin packed in the boiling house, and a rigid supervision maintained over the shops of retail dealers, also heavier penalties imposed than those fixed by the present Ordinance for illegal boiling or selling.
According to the evidence of the witnesses connected with the Opium Farm, the plan above sketched would not bring in so large a revenue as the present method, but it appears to the Commission that the principal drawback, (which the witnesses also brought prominently forward) would be the uncertainty of the revenue, one month as compared with another, owing to different state of markets at different periods, but they are of opinion that, taking year by year, it would be pretty regular, therefore the objection is not of much value, and that, if the above scheme is adopted and rigorously carried out, the revenue can hardly suffer.
Should the Government consider the above scheme unadvisable, and decide upon continuing the present system of granting a Monopoly, the Commission would suggest, that it would be more advisable to do so for a period of three years, as it would, in their opinion, bring forward more competitors. According to the present system of letting for short periods, capitalists are deterred from embarking their money in a business from which they may be ousted at the end of perhaps a year, and as more competitors nearly always means higher prices, the Government would, in the opinion of the Commission, receive a larger amount from the Monopoly.
The Opium Monopolist has expressed himself strongly in favor of letting for short periods, stating that he would not like it to be for a long period, giving as his principal reason, that he has heard that a Monopoly for boiling Opium similar to the one existing in this Colony, is about to be established in Australia. The Commission do not, however, attach much weight to this, and think that his real reason for being in favor of short periods is that, he being in possession, has the advantage over any new comer. With reference to the means of disposing of the Monopoly, the Commission would recommend its being put up to Public Auction, giving at least two months' notice of the same in the public journals of the Colony. Should it be decided to adhere to the present system of disposing of the Monopoly by tender, then the Commission would suggest that, after a notice of similar length to that mentioned, the tenders should be opened by a board composed of at least three Government Officers, those tendering having permission to be present if they wished it.
The Commission do not approve of the scheme proposed by the Wo HANG firm, to have a plurality of Licensees, at an annual fee of $20,000 each, as they think it might lead to a combination which instead of increasing would decrease the revenue.
With reference to paragraph 11 in His Excellency's Memo, addressed to Mr. SMITH, the Commission can only state, that in their opinion, every Monopoly must be detrimental to some one, but looking at the fact that the particular Hong making the complaint used the powers given by the Monopoly during its own tenure of same to the detriment of others, it cannot fairly have much to urge against the system.
As regards the sufficiency of the powers granted under Ordinance No. 2 to the Monopolists for maintaining the integrity of their privilege, the Commission are of opinion that they are ample, and as full as it would be safe to place in the hands of a private Firm. The Monopolist in his evidence stated that he was unable to get a warrant after dark, but this was merely an error on his part; it was clearly pointed out to him that he could obtain a warrant at any hour.
9th November, 1872.
C. MAY.
P. RYRIE.
Translation
of Articles of Agreement of the Sun I' Company-
It is considered that when a great plan is going to be initiated it is needful that the method of Ou Hey should be adopted. In the starting of a large undertaking it is highly necessary that the promises of the Duke Kwai should be respected.
In the principle of broadly acquiring wealth the first thing to be required is to lay open one's sincerity and faithfulness. In general commerce and good speculations it is likewise necessary that good regulations should be made in order to secure a good end.
Now we the two Companies Clap Thing and Yan Te, having amalgamated with the different firms Simms both in Australia and California by admitting them as partners in the Opium preparing Trading Company.
560
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD NOVEMBER, 1872.
But, to be well within the mark, let the excess be taken as twenty-five per cent, the figures would then stand as follows:-
To Australia,
To California, 25 per cent more than above,.
To Portland, &c.,
-1,443 chests, 40 balls cach-57,760 balls at $3.80 each,. Add for home consumption,.
Taels 651,600
"
814,500 50,000
Taels 1,516,100
$219,339.80 22,884.00
$242,223.80
Then comes the question, as to whether the entire quantity shipped from this Port to above places, is prepared by the Monopolists; several of the witnesses have stated that Opium is prepared in the Colony clandestinely, and also that it is brought into the Colony, and exported in like manner without paying license fees, but none of them were able to give any data of the quantity. The Commission give it as their opinion, that, allowing for the vigilance of the Monopolists' informers, the quantity cannot be very large. The Commission may, of course, be wrong in this opinion, and in that view, can but suggest, as the only method of arriving at the correct state of affairs, that the Government, take the Opium Monopoly into its own hands, and by establishing one or more boiling establishments under its own supervision, making these the only places at which it shall be legal to boil Opium, charging duty by the ball or by the tael after boiling, or both, as may appear most advantageous. By the evidence of one of the witnesses, the cost of this supervision and the staff requisite to prevent illicit boiling would be amply covered by the increased receipts. In the event of such a scheme being tried, the Commission would suggest as a means of detecting illicitly boiled Opium, that a Government stamp should be put upon each tin packed in the boiling house, and a rigid supervision maintained over the shops of retail dealers, also heavier penalties imposed than those fixed by the present Ordinance for illegal boiling or selling.
According to the evidence of the witnesses connected with the Opium Farm, the plan above sketched would not bring in so large a revenue as the present method, but it appears to the Commis- sion that the principal drawback, (which the witnesses also brought prominently forward) would be the uncertainty of the revenue, one month as compared with another, owing to different state of markets at different periods, but they are of opinion that, taking year by year, it would be pretty regular, therefore the objection is not of much value, and that, if the above scheine is adopted and rigorously carried out, the revenue can hardly suffer.
Should the Government consider the above scheme unadvisable, and decide upon continuing the present system of granting a Monopoly, the Commission would suggest, that it would be more advisable to do so for a period of three years, as it would, in their opinion, bring forward more competitors. According to the present system of letting for short periods, capitalists are deterred from embarking their money in a business from which they may be ousted at the end of perhaps a year, and as more competitors nearly always means higher prices, the Government would, in the opinion of the Commission, receive a larger amount from the Monopoly.
The Opium Monopolist has expressed himself strongly in favor of letting for short periods, stating that he would not like it to be for a long period, giving as his principal reason, that he has heard that a Monopoly for boiling Opium similar to the one existing in this Colony, is about to be established in Australia. The Commission do not, however, attach much weight to this, and think that his real reason for being in favor of short periods is that, he being in possession, has the advantage over any new comer. With reference to the means of disposing of the Monopoly, the Commission would recommend its being put up to Public Auction, giving at least two months' notice of the same in the public journals of the Colony. Should it be decided to adhere to the present system of disposing of the Monopoly by tender, then the Commission would suggest that, after a notice of similar length to that mentioned, the tenders should be opened by a board composed of at least three Government Officers, those tendering having permission to be present if they wished it.
The Commission do not approve of the scheme proposed by the Wo HANG firm, to have a plurality of Licensees, at an annual fee of $20,000 each, as they think it might lead to a combination which instead of increasing would decrease the revenue.
With reference to paragraph 11 in His Excellency's Memo, addressed to Mr. SMITH, the Commission can only state, that in their opinion, every Monopoly must be detrimental to some one, but looking at the fact that the particular Hong making the complaint used the powers given by the Monopoly during its own tenure of same to the detriment of others, it cannot fairly have much to urge against the system.
As regards the sufficiency of the powers granted under Ordinance No. 2 to the Monopolists for maintaining the integrity of their privilege, the Commission are of opinion that they are ainple, and as full as it would be safe to place in the hands of a private Firm. The Monopolist in his evidence stated that he was unable to get a warrant after dark, but this was merely an error on his part; it was clearly pointed out to him that he could obtain a warrant at any hour.
9th November, 1872.
C. MAY.
P. RYRIE.
Translation
of Articles of Agreement of the Sun I'
the Sun I' Company-
It is considered that when a great plan
is going to be initiated it is needful that
the method
of Ou Hey should be adopted. In the starting of a large undertaking it is highly neessey that the promises of the Duke Kwai should be respected.
In the principle of broding acquiring) wearth the perit thing to be required is to lay open one's sincerity
and faithfulness. In general commerce and good
speculations it is likeurse necessary that good
regulations should be made in order to secure
a good end.
how we the two Companies Clap thing and
Yan te kaving amalgamated with the different slopes Simms both in Australia and California by admitting
them as partners in the Opuim preparing Trading
lexpery.
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