4. of Hongkong and Canton.
The trade carried on by the Petitioners' said Steamers plying between the ports of Hongkong and Canton amounts on the average to an annual aggregate sum of $400,000.
The Opium trade in the Colony of Hongkong is regulated by Ordinances No.22 of 1887, No.21 of 1891, and No.22 of 1891. And under or by virtue of these Ordinances the Governor in Council grants to the Opium Farmer the sole privilege of preparing Opium and of selling the same within the Colony in manner thereby provided.
For some years past the question of the smuggling by Chinese of opium into Canton by Petitioners' said Steamers has been of serious proportions and caused Petitioners grave anxiety, in spite of every precaution taken by your Petitioners to prevent smuggling.
On the 3rd September 1888, in consequence of the increase of this smuggling, your Petitioners commenced a correspondence with the Hongkong Government on the subject with the object of obtaining relief from the difficulties and risks under which their Canton trade was being carried on. This correspondence is set out in the printed book of Correspondence and other papers sent herewith for reference. It will be seen from a perusal of this book that your Petitioners have been put to considerable expense and trouble in connection with this question.
Towards the end of the year 1888, your Petitioners, the Hongkong Canton and Macao Steamboat Company Limited, with the object of endeavouring to put a check to this smuggling and in accordance with suggestions made by Sir Robert Hart, Inspector General of the Imperial Maritime Customs of China, instituted and paid for a preventive service consisting of thirty-five men under the charge of a head European Preventive officer. This preventive staff boarded and searched all your Petitioners' said Steamships and took all such measures as suggested themselves to prevent or detect smuggling. It is still in force and costs the Company an annual sum of $2,500. Your Petitioners submit that they should not be called upon to bear this expense and that they would not have to do so if they were adequately protected by the legislation of this Colony.
Nothing definitely hopeful came of the correspondence above referred to until your Petitioners, the Hongkong Canton and Macao Steamboat Company Limited, received a letter dated the 13th October 1889, from Mr. Lister, the then Acting Colonial Secretary, in which Mr. Lister stated that the draft of an Ordinance was under consideration which it was hoped would tend to modify, if not altogether remove, the causes of complaint on the subject of Opium smuggling.
That your Petitioners had good grounds for complaint was admitted by His Excellency, the Governor, in a speech which he made in the Legislative Council held on the 24th November 1889. At that meeting, the Honourable Eneas Kelly, the then Chairman of your Petitioners, the Hongkong Canton and Macao Steamboat Company, ...
Page 491
3
h
5
6.
4.
of Hongkong and beanton.
The trade carried on
by symer Le titreners Raid. Pleamers betreeen the ports of Hongkong and bauton amounts on the
to an amual
average
aggregate Rum of f 400,000.
o the Opium trade in the loolony of Hongking is Regulated by Ordinances M22 of 1887, 21 of 1891, and "22 of 1891. and måder or by virtue of there Ordinances the Governor in bouncil grant to the Opium Farmer the sole privilege of preparing Opium and of telling the Rume ruthin the folony in manner thereby provided.
teamt
For some years part the question of the Dunuggling by chinese of opium into fanton by
Petitioner's said Steamers hat of your attumed Zeriout proportions and Canted Petitioners grave aurich, on epile of every- precaution taken by your detitionere druggling
har held and still holds its oven.
On the Dard Leptember 1888 in
your
Comsequence Petitiomers
of the increase of this smuggling, your Commmenced a Correspondence with the stongkong Covernment on the Rubject with the object of obtaining relief from the difficulties and riske under which their Wanton trade mas being carried on.
being carried on. This correspondues. [ is set out in the printed book of Correspondence and other papers kent herewith for reference. Strull be zeen from a perural of this book that your Fetitioners have been put to considerable expence and trouble in connexion with this question.
1888
your.
Fowards the end of the year Petitioners the stonghong lantion and Macao
8
༥.
kervice
491
Steamboat Company Limited ruth the object of - endeavouring to put a check to this kmuggling and in accordance with a Ruggestions made by Dir Robert Hurt Inspector General of the Imperial Akaritime Customs of lehina instituted and paid for a preventive
their of
Consisting of time dif. men under the charge of a head European Preventive. officer, this preventive staff boarded and Lear shed all- your
Petitioners Raid Pleamshipe and took all Ruch meaturer at Ruggested themselves to prevent or delect Comuggling. It is still in force and in the ap keep costs the loompany
an annual kum of $ 2.500. Your detitionere submit that they should not be called on to bear this expense and that they would not have to do 20 if they were
were adequately protected by the Legislation
að
of this leolony.
Tothing definitely hopeful came of the Correspondence above referred to until
your vetitioners the stongkong loanton and thread Steamboat Company Limited Neceived a letter stated the 13 October 1884 from twr Lister, the then ofeting toolonial Lecretary in- which Mr Listen stated that the Draft of wat uviden-Consideration which it rías hoped would tend to modify if not altogether Remove the causer, of Complaint on the Rubject of Opium Emuggling (Rec- book.)
an (ordinance
That your Fetitioners had good grounds for Complaint was admitted by the Excellence, the Lovernor in a speech which he made in the Legislative founcil held on the 24th November 1889. At that meeting the Honourable Thineas dyrie, the then lohairman of your Petitioners the Hongkong leantor and Macao Rteamboat
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