(4)
I had yesterday the pleasure of placing these before the Committee, when the question was fully discussed, and as a preliminary measure the Honourable PHINEAS RYRE was asked to bring the matter before the Legislative Council, and in a form that would admit of open discussion, prominence to be given to the question, was there any understanding with the Opium Farmer that all confiscated drug was to be delivered up to him.
I remain,
Dear Sirs,
Yours faithfully,
T. HENDERSON,
Secretary.
No. 2587.
SIR,
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 21st October, 1889.
With reference to the joint letter from Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE and yourself, of the 17th instant, I am directed by the Governor to state that the draft Opium Bill referred to will be published as soon as it has been introduced to the Legislative Council.
I am to add, however, that copies of it will be forwarded to you before then, if it should have previously received the necessary consideration.
I have the honour to be,
T. ARNOLD, Esq.,
Secretary,
Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Coy., Ld.
Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE.
Agents, China Navigation Company, Limited.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. LISTER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
No. 2553.
SIR.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 15th October, 1889.
Adverting to recent correspondence on the subject of Opium smuggling, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to inform you that the draft of an Ordinance is under consideration which, it is hoped, will tend to modify, if not altogether remove, the causes of complaint in this matter.
I have the honour to be,
THOMAS ARNOLD, Esq., Secretary,
Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. LISTER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
HONGKONG. 17th October, 1889.
We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, informing us that the draft of an Ordinance is under consideration of the Government which, we note with pleasure, it is hoped, will tend to modify, if not altogether remove, the causes of complaint in connection with the smuggling of Opium by our River Steamers.
Being largely interested in the matter, we shall feel obliged if His Excellency the Governor will favour us with a copy of the proposed Ordinance, as we may, from our point of view, be able to suggest amendments which would render the working of the Ordinance as little burdensome to us as possible.
We have the honour to be,
To The Honourable ALFRED LISTER,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
Thos. ARNOLD,
Secretary, The Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
Agents, The China Navigation Company, Limited.
Extract from the Hongkong “Daily Press" of the proceedings at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held 27th November, 1889.
THE OPIUM FARM AND SMUGGLING.
Honourable P. RYRE-Your Excellency, in accordance with notice I beg to move "That the Executive be requested to lay on the table the existing agreement with the Opium Farmer and all papers relating thereto." Mr. MacEwen I think will second the motion. I think it will be apparent what the object of this motion is. It comes from the two Steamboat Companies, who wish to be placed in a proper position with regard to the Opium Ordinance. They really are quite in the dark as to what powers the Opium Farmer has. He claims certain powers and these powers are disputed by the Magistrate, and altogether the question seems to be in a very doubtful position. In the meantime smuggling goes on to a very large extent and the Imperial Customs are complaining of it. They suffer in the first instance, but then they fall back on the Steamboat Companies and make them the scapegoats of the misdemeanours of these parties who smuggle opium from this port to Canton. The Steamboat Companies have done everything in their power; they have a special detective with a staff of Chinese detectives under him, and they do all in their power, but still people manage to smuggle opium on board the steamers, and the Companies are of opinion, and so are the Customs, that regulations might be made that would to a certain extent check it. I do not think there will ever be regulations made that will entirely stop it. There was a case we had the other day; twenty-four tins of prepared opium were seized as to which there was a case in the Police Court. The Steamboat Companies distinctly traced this opium to one of the licensed opium shops; they traced it beyond doubt; they had it sworn on oath. Therefore there must be something done to prevent, if possible, this putting of opium on board the steamers in what are called "hides." I think myself it should be made a criminal offence for anyone surreptitiously to place opium on board a steamer. That would help the Steamboat Companies. At any rate the matter has been considered by the Steamboat Companies, by the Customs, and by the Chamber of Commerce, and they decided as a preliminary step that we should ask your Excellency to lay on the table the papers I have now requested by my motion. I have nothing more to say. I dare say your Excellency knows from communications from other quarters there has been a great deal of smuggling, and that the only thing is to devise means which will to a great extent put a stop to it. It is constantly getting the steamers into trouble. They have no wish to ...
524
(4)
I had yesterday the pleasure of placing these before the Committee, when the question was fully discussed, and as a preliminary measure the Honourable PHINEAS KYRIE was asked to bring the matter before the Legislative Council, and in a form that would admit of open discussion, prominence to be given to the question, was there any understanding with the Opium Farmer that all confiscated drug was to be delivered up to him.
I reinain,
Dear Sirs,
Yours faithfully,
T. HENDERSON,
Secretary.
No. 2587.
SIR,
(ة)
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 21st October, 1889.
With reference to the joint letter from Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE and yourself, of the 17th instant, I am directed by the Governor to state that the draft Opium Bill referred to will be published as soon as it has been introduced to the Legislative Council.
I am to add, however, that copies of it will be forwarded to you before then, if it should have previously received the necessary consideration.
I have the honour to be,
T. ARNOLD, Esq.,
Secretary,
Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Coy,, Ld.
Messrs. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE.
Agents, China Navigation Company, Limited.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. LISTER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
No. 2553.
SIR.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 15th October, 1889.
Adverting to recent correspondence on the subject of Opium smuggling, I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to inform you that the draft of an Ordinance is under consideration which, it is hoped, will tend to modity, if not altogether remove, the causes of complaint in this matter.
THOMAS ARNOLn, Esq.. Secretary,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
A. LISTER, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Hongkong, Canton and Muevo Steam-boat Company, Limited.
$o..
SIR,
50.,
dr.
HONGKONG. 17th October, 1889.
We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, informing us that the draft of an Ordinance is under consideration of the Government which, we note with pleasure, it is hoped, will tend to modify, if not altogether remove, the causes of complaint in connection with the smuggling of Opium by our River Steamers.
Being largely interested in the matter, we shall feel obliged if His Excellency the Governor will favor us with a copy of the proposed Ordinance, as we may, from our point of view, be able to suggest amendments which would render the working of the Ordinance as little burdensome to us as possible.
We have the honour to be,
To The Honourable ALFRED LISTER,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
$c.,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
Thos. ARNOLD,
Secretary, The Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents, The China Navigation Company, Limited.
ye..
c.
THOMAS ARNOL, Esq., Secretary,
Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited.
$e..
&c.,
c.
Extract from the Hongkong “Daily Press" of the proceedings at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held 27th November, 1859.
THE OPIUM FARM AND SMUGGLING.
Honourable P. RYRIR-Your Excellency, in accordance with notice I beg to move "That the Excentive be requested to lay on the table the existing agreement with the Opium Farmer and all papers relating thereto." Mr. MacEwen I think will second the motion. I think it will be apparent what the object of this motion is. It comes from the two Steamboat Companies, who wish to be placed in a proper position with regard to the Opium Ordinance. They really are quite in the dark as to what powers the Opium Farmer has. He claims certain powers and these powers are disputed by the Magistrate, and altogether the question seems to be in a very doubtful position. In the meantime smuggling goes on to a very large extent and the Imperial Customs are complaining of it. They suffer in the first instance, but then they fall back on the Steamboat Companies and make them the scapegoats of the misdemeanours of these parties who sanggle opium from this port to Canton. The Steamboat Companies have done everything in their power; they have a special detective with a staff of Chinese detectives under him, and they do all in their power, but still people manage to smuggle opium on board the steamers, and the Companies are of opinion, and so are the Customs, that regulations might be made that would to a certain extent check it. I do not think there will ever be regulations made that will entirely stop it. There was a case we had the other day; twenty-four tins of prepared opium were seized as to which there was a case in the Police Court. The Steamboat Companies distinctly traced this opium to one of the licensed opium shops; they traced it beyond doubt; they had it sworn on oath. Therefore there must be something done to prevent, if possible, this putting of opium on board the steamers in what are called "hides." I think myself it should be made a criminal offence for anyone surreptitiously to place opium on board a steamer. That would help the Steamboat Companies. At any rate the matter has been considered by the Steamboat Companies, by the Customs, and by the Chamber of Commerce, and they decided as a preliminary step that we should ask your Excellency to lay on the table the papers I have now requested by my motion. I have nothing more to say. I dare say your Excellency knows froru communications from other quarters there has been a great deal of smuggling, and that the only thing is to devise means which will to a great extent put a stop to it. It is constantly getting the steamers into trouble. They have no wish to
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524
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