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smuggle. As your Excellency is aware, they have taken every precaution, and all these precautions, as the law now stands, they find are futile.
Honourable A. P. MACEWEN--I beg to second the motion.
His EXCELLENCY--I am quite willing to lay on the table the existing agreement with the Opium Farmer, because it has been already published. As it has apparently been overlooked that it has been already published, it may be useful to have it laid on the table again and republished, and copies can be sent to all interested. But I do not exactly understand what kind of papers relating to such any opium contract the honourable member means, and I do not see how papers can throw any further light on the contract than the contract itself shows in its own terms. That contract was published for some weeks before it was entered into, giving due notice to all concerned. It was only entered into after great consideration, and it is somewhat late in the day now to think about altering its terms. That course could only be followed if large compensations were paid. At the same time, the honourable gentleman asks for correspondence. I do not see, as I said before, how that can throw any further light on the contract than is thrown by the contract itself. Of course, as to giving up confidential correspondence which led the Governor in Council to include in the terms of the contract terms which are unusual and which were introduced for the very purpose the honourable member has in view, to prevent opium smuggling into China, I could not do it, because most of it was confidential, written to me as Governor by people who would not desire their names to be made public. And I do not see what purpose could be gained. The result is there, whether it is good or bad. If it is bad, it is open to attack in this Council, and I do not see that the correspondence would help in any way. If the honourable member would describe further, either by letter or interview, what correspondence he means, of course, any of it of a kind that is not confidential that would assist his case, I shall be most happy to give him, but I cannot see what correspondence we have that can possibly assist him. The honourable member knows perfectly well this subject has given me a large amount of anxiety. I am quite aware there is ground of complaint, and serious ground of complaint, from the point of view of the honourable member, and from the point of view of the Government also. I think he was made aware lately that we have under consideration an Ordinance intended to meet the very object which the honourable member desires. I think if that should be in any way found wanting, it will be the time then, when the Ordinance comes up for consideration, for the honourable member to propose the necessary amendments. Beyond that, I do not see at this moment that anything more can be done. I think the Ordinance is quite ready, and that we will be able to take the first reading next week, so that if the honourable member is not satisfied, his remedy is close at hand. Beyond that, I cannot say anything to-day except to request that the contract with the Opium Farmer be laid on the table.
Honourable P. RYRIE said he was much obliged to his Excellency.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY--I beg to lay on the table the form of contract which was published in the Government Gazette. I should like to explain one point alluded to by the honourable member, that the opium was traced as having been purchased from a licensed opium shop. As a matter of fact, these licensed opium shops exist for the purpose of selling opium to anyone who applies for it, just as openly as tobacco or spirits are sold in England, and there is nothing to prevent the honourable member or myself going to these shops and buying it as we please and taking it to Canton or anywhere else. Prepared Opium is freely sold, and these licensed shops exist only for the purpose of selling it to anyone who wants it. The fact that the opium was traced to a licensed opium shop does not amount to anything. If it had been traced to an unlicensed shop, it would have been a very different matter.
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OFFICE OF THE HONGKONG, CANTON & MACAO STEAM-BOAT COMPANY, LIMITED.
HONGKONG, 28th January, 1890.
Adverting to the correspondence which has taken place between our Companies and the Government upon the subject of Opium smuggling, we shall feel obliged if His Excellency the Governor can inform us whether the Ordinance referred to in the Acting Colonial Secretary's letter (No. 2553) dated the 15th October, 1889, is likely soon to be introduced to the Legislative Council.
We have the honour to be,
The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
THOS. ARNOLD,
Secretary, The Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
Agents, The China Navigation Company, Limited.
Colonial Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE HONGKONG, CANTON & MACAO STEAM-BOAT COMPANY, LIMITED,
HONGKONG, 3rd May, 1890.
Referring to the correspondence which took place between the Government and our Companies last year upon the subject of Opium smuggling by the River steamers, we beg to remind you that as long ago as the 15th October last, we were informed by a letter from the Honourable ALFRED LISTER, the then Acting Colonial Secretary, 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 in this matter.
On the 28th January last, we addressed a letter to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, asking if His Excellency the Governor could inform us whether the proposed Ordinance was likely soon to be introduced to the Legislative Council. So far, we have not been favoured with any acknowledgment of this letter.
We must now ask His Excellency the Administrator to state definitely whether the proposed legislation has been abandoned; as if so, we must take steps to bring our grievance to the notice of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies. We only refrained from doing so at the time upon the faith of the promise made by the Government in the above-mentioned letter.
We have the honour to be,
The Honourable W. M. DEANE,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
THOS. ARNOLD,
Secretary, The Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
Agents, China Navigation Company, Limited.
525
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smuggle. As your Excellency is aware they have taken every precaution, and all these precautions, as the law now stands, they find are futile.
Honourable A. P. MACEWEN--I beg to second the motion.
His EXCELLENCY--I am quite willing to lay on the table the existing agree- ment with the Opium Farmer, because it has been already published. As it has apparently been overlooked that it has been already published it may be useful to have it laid on the table again and republished, and copies can be sent to all interested. But I do not exactly understand what kind of papers relating to the such any opium contract the honourable member means, and I do not see how papers can throw any further light on the contract than the contract itself shows in its own terms. That contract was published for some weeks before it was entered into, giving due notice to all concerned. It was only entered into after great consideration, and it is somewhat late in the day now to think about altering its terms. That course could only be followed if large compensations were paid. At the same time, the honourable gentleman asks for correspondence. I do not see, as I said before, how that can throw any further light on the contract than is thrown by the contract itself. Of course, as to giving up confidential correspon- dence which led the Governor in Council to include in the terms of the contract terms which are unusual and which were introduced for the very purpose the honourable member has in view, to prevent opium smuggling into China, I could not do it, because most of it was confidential, written to me as Governor by people who would not desire their names to be made public. And I do not see what purpose could be gained. The result is there, whether it is good or bad. If it is bad it is open to attack in this Council, and I do not see that the correspondence would help in any way. If the honourable member would describe further, either by letter or interview, what correspondence he means, of course any of it of a kind that is not confidential that would assist his case, I shall be most happy to give him, but I cannot see what correspondence we have that can possibly assist him. The honourable member knows perfectly well this subject has given me a large amount of anxiety. I am quite aware there is ground of complaint, and serious ground of complaint, from the point of view of the honourable number, and from the point of view of the Government also. I think he was made aware lately that we have under consideration an Ordinance intended to meet the very object which the honourable member desires. I think if that should be in any way found wanting it will be the time then, when the Ordinance comes up for consideration, for the honourable member to propose the necessary amendments. Beyond that I do not see at this moment that any thing more can be done. I think the Ordinance is quite ready, and that we will be able to take the first reading next week, so that if the honourable member is not satisfied his remedy is close at hand. Beyond that I cannot say anything to-day except to request that the contract with the Opium Farmer be laid on the table.
Honourable P. RYRIE said he was much obliged to his Excellency.
The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to lay on the table the form of contract which was published in the Government Gazette. I should like to explain one point alluded to by the honourable member, that the opium was traced as having been purchased from a licensed opium shop. As a matter of fact these licensed opium shops exist for the purpose of selling opium to anyone who applies for it, just as openly as tobacco or spirits are sold in England, and there is nothing to us much prevent the honourable member or myself going to these shops and buying
as we please and taking it to Canton or anywhere else. Prepared Opium is freely sold and these licensed shops exist only for the purpose of selling it to any one who wants it. The fact that the opium was traced to a licensed opium shop does not amount to anything. If it had been traced to an unlicensed shop it would have been a very different matter.
SIR,
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OFFICE OF THE HONGKONG, CANTON & MACAO STEAM-BOAT COMPANY, LIMITED.
HONGKONG, 28th January, 1890.
Adverting to the correspondence which has taken place between our Com- panies and the Government upon the subject of Opium smuggling, we shall fecl obliged if His Excellency the Governor can inform us whether the Ordinance referred to in the Acting Colonial Secretary's letter (No. 2553) dated the 15th October, 1889, is likely soon to be introduced to the Legislative Council.
We have the honour to be,
The Honourable FRANCIS FLEMING, C.M.G.,
SIR,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
THOS. ARNOLD,
Secretary, The Hongkong, Canton & Mucao, Steam-boat Company, Limited.
BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE,
Agents, The China Navigation Company, Limited.
Colonial Secretary.
OFFICE OF THE HONGKONG, CANTON & MACAO STEAM-ROAT COMPANY, LIMITED,
HONGKONG, 3rd May, 1890.
Referring to the correspondence which took place between the Governmcut and our Companies last year upon the subject of Opium sunggling by the River steamers, we beg to remind you that as long ago as the 15th October last, we were informed by a letter from the Honourable ALFRED LISTER, the then Acting Colonial Secretary, 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 in
this matter.
On the 28th January last, we addressed a letter to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, asking if His Excellency the Governor could inform us whether the proposed Ordinance was likely soon to be introduced to the Legislative Council. So far, we have not been favoured with any acknowledgment of this letter.
We must now ask His Excellency the Administrator to state definitely whether the proposed legislation has been abandoned; as if so, we must take steps to bring our grievance to the notice of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonics. We only refrained from doing so at the thine upon the faith of the promise made by the Government in the above-mentioned letter.
We have the honour to be,
The Honourable W, M. DEANE,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
THOS. ARNOLD,
Secretary, The Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-boat Company, Limited. BUTTERFIELD & SWIRE, Agents, China Navigation Company, Limited,
525
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