CO129-396 - Public Offices - 1912 — Page 369

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Enclosure 10

August 20, 1912.

Mesere. Smith, Bell & Co.,Ltd.,

Manila, P. T.

Gentleman;

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The receipt is acknowledged of your communication of the 15th. instant, submitting a copy of a letter received from Mesars. Jardine, Matheson & Co.,Ltd., Hongkong; also a copy of a letter signed by the Master of the als "Yuanaung" and addressed to the above mentioned firm; and in which you state that you understand the Insular Collector of Custous is "not at all satisfied with the onre taken by the steamship owners or by the authorities in Hongkong to prevent the smuggling of opium on board vessels in Hongkong;" also requesting suggestions from this Office that would tend to put a stop to the smuggling of oplum on board the Hongkong! Vanila steamers.

In reply thereto you are informed that the failure of the searchers to find opium on board the s/s "Yuensang" was not unexpected, ne there was opportunity after her departure from this Port to conceal the drug in same portion of the vessel in which it was less liable to be found than in the coal bunkera. The under-

signed is not in a position to make suggestions to ship-owers in Hongkong as to the methods that might or should be pursued at that point to prevent the transfer of opium to vessels bound for Philippine Ports, as that is a matter which they (the

vessel owners) are in the best position to detenuine. It is understood that the only

steps taken in Hongkong to prevent the introduction of opium on board vossola is

the stationing of four Chinese policemen on board while sald vessels are in Hongkong harbou. Several of the masters of steamers plying between Hongkong and landia have stated that the placing of Chinese police officers aboard the vessels will not

prevent opium being broughtaboard, and this Sffice is entirely in nocord with their

view of the matter. The assertion in Messrs, Jardine, Matheson & Company's letter,

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