CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 81

vessel receiving exported opium was to give a receipt for

it to the Superintendant.

(4) The Master of a ship, having opium on board, arriving in the Colony (whether the opium were

destined for Hongkong or not) was to report the same to

the Superintendant, under a penalty of a fine of $500,

or imprisonment, & such opium was to be forfeited.

(5) Previously, if a ship arrived when the

Superintendant's Office was closed, the opium could be

landed without a permit, its landing being reported

to be when the Office opened. This was now forbidden,

80

A

These suggestions were referred to the Chamber

of Commerce, who suggested, with certain minor alterations,

that the merchants own warehouses should be used, instead

of a big Central warehouse, the merchants giving similar

bonds as were given by the Shanghai merchants as to the

bonded hulks at that port: they further asked that the

necessity existing under the old Ordinance (22 of 1887)

ordering that all export permits should be reported to

the Opium farmer should be done away with, as giving

him an unfair advantage: & finally opposed altogether the

idea that any duty should be collected in Hongkong,

pointing out that such a system would considerably interfere

with the optional shipments for Hongkong & Shanghai, so

often utilised, & that further, duty at Shanghai being paid by the native dealers, & not by the importers, the change contemplated would entirely change the incidence of the duty upon Opium shipped from this port to Shanghai,

thus injuring the Merchants.

Accordingly certain alterations were made in

the