CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 353

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Enclosures // in. W. Willman's No. 17 of 26 Oct. 1912.

A. E. Vileman Esq.,

H.R.. Consul-General.

MANILA. 15th. August, 1912.

C.O.

Enclosure 38206

REC

350

50400

REGE 3 DEC 12 (26 NOV 1912)

Sir:

Vanila.

Ta bag to hand you copies of correspondence, with regard to the presort

conditions under which vessels from Hongkong to Manila are being reportedly fined

by the Collector of Customs for the carrying of unmanifasted cargo in the form of

opium, which we consider is a great hardship on the sternship owners.

We trust that you will be able to give us your help in this latter,aither In getting the Collector of Customs to show more leniency in the fining of the

els, or in getting the courts to give more severo sentoncos on the netual culprit s.

We feel sure that our Hongkong principals do everything in their power to

and stop this illegal tmffic, which of course is natural, as the present

quency of fines is becoming a very large item in the annual accounts of those

mors. Mr. Stanley informed us this morning that ho was not at all satisfied with

thodo smployed by the steanship owners and the Authorities in Hongkong to pit

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to the smuggling of opium on board the vessels in Hongkong, and that lo

ended to assess the maximum fino in future on very voseol in which opiwo w s

and on arrival at this Port. We have asked him to give us any suggestions he may

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ave that would make it more difficult for opium to be amuggled on board the vasacl

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hile lying in Hongkong, as we wish to do everything in our power to atop this

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Togal traffic.

Trusting you will be able to help us in this matter,

We are, Bir,

Your obedient servants,

SUTTH. RELL & C. LTD.

Agents: China Navigation Co. Ltd.

Indo-China Steam Marlgation do.

India