[This Docunrent is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[September 5.]
SECTION 1
30224
(32351]
No. 1.
RECP
Hony Kong General Chumber of Commerce to Foreign Office.~(Received September 30)
Sir,
Hong Kong, August 11, 1910.
I BEG to confirm the telegram dispatched by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce on the 8th instant, reading as follows:-
"Canton opium monopolist runners still watch raw opiuin shops Swatow, stopping all business unless illegal tax paid. On 2nd August further twenty balls Patna seized Samsbui, although bearing customs transit pass. Two whole chests, after being passed maritime customs, Hong Kong and Taichen, duty and -kin paid, in transit to Tsangsing and Loongmoon, seized in Suntong, owner sent in chains to Canton, released after two days on signing bond pay fine 1,850 taels. Monopolist pays no regard maritime customs transit passes. Native dealers dare not trade, raw opiuni business entirely stopped; apparently useless making further appeals Wai-wu Pa urge upon home Government send definite instructions chargé d'affaires insist immediate abolition illegal tax and opium monopoly. Chamber Commerce considers so long Indian agreement exists merchants entitled trade raw opium under terms treaties, and that home Government should enforce recognition of treaty rights.-HEWETT, Chairman,
My despatches of the 14th June and 9th July will have already explained the situation with regard to the raw opium trade in Kwangtung, and no doubt full advices *have also been sent you by His Britannic Majesty's chargé d'affaires at Peking, showing how the Canton opium monopolist has been extending his operations in various parts of the province.
A branch office has been opened by the Kwong Wing Yuen firm at Swatow, and towards the end of July sixtech balls of Patna opium, on which full duty and li-kin had been paid, intended for the interior, although having Imperial Maritime Customs transit labels, were seized by the firm's runners as the illegal tax of 7 dols. 20 c. per ball had not been paid. Runners are also stationed outside the various opium shops to prevent them from carrying on business unless they first obtained their licences from the Kwong Wing Yuen and guarantee the payment of the new tax on all opium which passes through their hands.
In explanation of my telegram of the 8th instant, I would state that twenty balls of Patna opium, repacked under proper supervision of the Imperial Maritime Customs, and bearing the usual transit pass certificates, were confiscated by the representatives of the Kwong Wing Yuen at Samshui on the West River, although the opium was in transit to the interior. The opium was presumably seized because it had not been shipped under the regulations issued by the opium monopolists, and had not paid the
new tax.
On the same date, two whole chests of opium (one Fatna and one Benares) were seized at Suntong in the Tsangsing district (near the mouth of the East River). One of these chests was destined for Tsangsing and the other for Loongmoon. Reference to the map will show that both these towns are situated on the Loongmoon River, a tributary of the East River, and at a considerable distance from Suntong. It cannot be claimed therefore that the last-named town was the point of consumption, and that any justification could be found for seizing these chests at the li-kin station referred to.
The two chests were purchased in Hong Kong by a well-known native dealer direct from the two importing houses of Messrs. E. D. Sassoon and Company and Messrs. S. J. David and Company.
They were resold by him to another native dealer, who himself accompanied the chests in the Hong Kong licensed junk "Shun Hing."
The owner of the opium was arrested at Suntong, presumably on the ground that the opium had been imported in defiance of the regulations laid down by the Kwong Wing Yuen firm. He was sent under an armed escort in chaius to Canton as though
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