511
(8)
upon, as he ought to be, to render a strict account at short and irregular intervals of the raw Opium he has purchased, and of the prepared Opium he has sold. He evades the Law, by allowing others, for a consideration to prepare Opium in his boiling houses. He should be forbidden to boil at Kowloon, a place which from its situation is a most suitable smuggling depôt. He habitually violates the provisions of the Ordinance, or covers the violation through others, by breaking up chests of Opium on paltry excuses. If the Opium Ordinances were strictly enforced by the Government's Officers against him, as he is allowed to enforce them against the public, there would be little cause of complaint from the Chinese Government, but the most serious defect is the provision in the Ordinance or in the understanding, that entitles him to all the prepared Opium seized and condemned.
We demand, for our necessary protection, a change in the Law in this respect; that no Opium raw or prepared, which in the opinion of the Magistrate was being moved with the purpose of being smuggled into China, shall be adjudged or restored to the Opium Farmer or his officers on any pretence. Let it be either destroyed, or given, say, to us if seized on board our vessels, to compensate for the great, and in a free port, unnecessary expense we are put to and the risks we run.
If this change in the Law be made, it will not of course take away the inducement to the Opium Farmer to smuggle, or connive at smuggling, but it will certainly render it less safe, and less profitable to him and others.
We again ask that the very serious consideration of the Government be given to this complaint for the annoyances and risks that are forced on us, by our own action, have become intolerable. On the one hand the Colonial Government by its enactments causes us to be amenable to pains and penalties for offences against its Laws, in the infraction of which we are unwilling parties, and further tie our hands, by restoring to those really guilty, the impounded Opium. The result being, an encouragement is given to the smugglers to renew their attempts against your Laws.
On the other hand, the Chinese Authorities insist upon holding the ship and owners responsible for all breaches of their regulations. Thus, between the two Governments, at each end of the steamers' route, we are compelled to suffer innocently from no fault of our own.
We send a copy of this letter and of the papers submitted herewith to the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, Mr. MORGAN, for the information of the Chinese Government.
We are also addressing the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies direct on the subject.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
THOS. ARNOLD,
Secretary of the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Co., Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
Agents of the China Navigation Company, Limited.
The Honourable THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
HONGKONG.
No. 2,452.
SIR.
(9)
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 30th September, 1889.
I am directed by the Governor to inform you that the joint letter signed by yourself and Messrs. BUTTERFIELD AND SWIRE, dated the 24th instant, with its enclosures, regarding certain actions of the Opium Farmer, was to-day duly laid before His Excellency.
I am to state that your representations appear to establish a case for redress, and that the exceedingly difficult question as to the mode in which this can be afforded, is receiving His Excellency's careful attention.
I have the honour to be,
T. ARNOLD, Esq.,
Secretary,
Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited,
&c. &c. &c.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. H. MAY, Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE HONGKONG, CANTON & MACAO STEAMBOAT COMPANY, LIMITED.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 2nd October, 1889.
As further illustrating the evils complained of in my letter of the 24th ult., I beg to bring to the notice of His Excellency the Governor an incident which occurred last evening.
At 8.30 P.M. the Company's chief Preventive Officer, Mr. J. H. LOGAN, observed a licensed sampan (No. 2,814) alongside the steamer Honam. A man in the sampan, who was identified as a fireman recently discharged from the Company's service for being concerned in smuggling, was about to pass a package on board the steamer to some member of the crew. When the occupants of the sampan observed our preventive officer they at once pulled away from the steamer to the Praya Wall, a few yards distant.
In the meantime Mr. LOGAN had sent for European Police Constable No. 72 who took the Opium (14 Tins) found in the sampan and the man who had it in charge to the Police Station. On the way to the Station, the party was joined by an Excise Officer who stated that he had been sent by the Opium Farmer to look after the drug.
At the Station the Acting Inspector was unable to take any charge as the Opium was covered by a permit from the Farmer in favour of the Min Yuen licensed Opium shop. The tins were therefore restored to the would-be smuggler, who will doubtless, encouraged by success, continue his efforts to pass them on board one or other of our steamers until he manages to elude the vigilance of the Company's Officers.
I have the honour to be,
F. H. MAY, Esq.,
Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
THOS. ARNOLD, Secretary,
The Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Co., Limited.
511
(8)
upon, as he ought to be, to render a strict account at short and irregular intervals of the raw Opium he has purchased, and of the prepared Opium he has sold. He evades the Law, by allowing others, for a consideration to prepare Opium in his boiling houses. He should be forbidden to boil at Kowloon, a place which from its situation is a most suitable smuggling depôt. He habitually violates the provisions of the Ordinance, or covers the violation through others, by breaking up chests of Opium on paltry excuses. If the Opium Ordinances were strictly enforced by the Government's Officers against him, as he is allowed to enforce them against the public, there would be little cause of complaint from the Chinese Government, but the most serious defect is the provision in the Ordinance or in the understand- ing, that entitles him to all the prepared Opium seized and condemned.
We demand, for our necessary protection, a change in the Law in this respect; that no Opium raw or prepared, which in the opinion of the Magistrate was being moved with the purpose of being smuggled into China, shall be adjudged or restored to the Opium Farmer or his officers on any pretence. Let it be either des- troyed, or given, say, to us if seized on board our vessels, to compensate for the great, and in a free port, unnecessary expense we are put to and the risks we run.
If this change in the Law be made, it will not of course take away the induce- ment to the Opium Farmer to sunuggle, or connive at smuggling, but it will cer- tainly render it less safe, and less profitable to him and others.
We again ask that the very serious consideration of the Government be given no action of to this complaint for the annoyances and risks that are forced on us, by our own, have become intolerable. On the one hand the Colonial Government by its enactments causes us to be amenable to pains and penalties for offences against its Laws, in the infraction of which we are unwilling parties, and further tie our bands, by restoring to those really guilty, the impounded Opium. The result being, an encouragement is given to the smugglers to renew their attempts against your Laws.
On the other hand, the Chinese Authorities insist upon holding the ship and owners responsible for all breaches of their regulations. Thus, between the two Governments, at each end of the steamers' route, we are compelled to suffer inno cently from no fault of our own.
کچھ
We send a copy of this letter and of the papers submitted herewith to the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, Mr. MORGAN, for the information of the Chinese Government.
We are also addressing the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies direct on the subject.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your inost obedient Servants,
THOS. ARNOLD,
Sreretary of the Hongkong, Canton and Macas Steam-boat Co., Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents of the China Navigation Company, Limited.
The Honourable THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
HONGKONG.
No. 2,452.
SIR.
(9)
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 30th September, 1889.
I am directed by the Governor to inform you that the joint letter signed by yourself and Messrs. BUTTERFIELD AND SWIRE, dated the 24th instant, with its enclosures, regarding certain actions of the Opium Farner, was to-day duly laid before His Excellency.
I am to state that your reprosentations appear to establish a case for redress, and that the exceedingly difficult question as to the mode in which this can be afforded, is receiving His Excellency's careful attention.
I have the honour to be,
T. ARNOLD, Esq.,
Secretary,
Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-bont
Company, Limited,
&..
$e..
&r.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
F. II. MAY, Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE HONGKONG, CANTOS & MACAO STEAMBOAT COMPANY, LIMITED!.
SIR,
HONGKONG, 2nd October, 1889.
As further illustrating the evils complained of in my letter of the 24th ultino, I beg to bring to the notice of His Excellency the Governor an incident which occurred last evening.
At 8.30 P.M. the Company's chief Preventive Officer, Mr. J. H. LOGAN, observed a licensed sapan (No. 2,814) alongside the steamer Honam. A mau in the sapun, who was identified as a fireman recently discharged from the Company's service for being concerned in smuggling, was about to pass a package on board the steamer to some uuember of the crew. When the occupants of the sumpan observed our preventive officer they at once pulled away from the stemmer to the Praya Wall, a few yards distant.
In the meantime Mr. LOGAN had sent for European Police Constable No. 72 who took the Opium (14 Tius) found in the sampan and the man who had it in charge to the Police Station. On the way to the Station, the party was joined by an Excise Officer who stated that he had been sent by the Opium Farmer to look after the drug.
At the Station the Acting Inspector was unable to take any charge as the Opium was covered by a permit from the Farmer in favour of the Min Yuen licensed Opinn shop. The tins were therefore restored to the would-be smuggler, who will doubtless, encouraged by success, continue his efforts to pass them on board one or other of our steamers until he manages to elude the vigilance of the Company's Officers.
I have the honour to be.
F. H. MAY, Esq.,
Acting Assistant Colonial Secretary.
Sir.
Your most obedient Servant.
THOS. ARNOLD, Secretary, The Hongkong, Cuntoa and Mucno Stewn-boat Co., Limited,
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