CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 738

*

No 232.

sir.

کتے

Colf

35716

RECE

REGR 4 ME15)

729

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 22nd. June, 1915.

I have the honour to enclose a return showing

the seizures of raw opiwn made on board vessels arriving in Hong- -kong since the 1st. January last with the fines inflicted, where it was possible to prosecute, and the rewards paid to informers.

2.

With the exception of that found on board the S. S. *Nam Sang" all the opium seized came from London, and the Superintendent of Imports and Exports points out that this smuggl- -ing must continue so long as raw opium can be purchased without restriction in London at about 81,200 a chest and can be sold in China at 89,300 a chest. The amount shown in the return is equiva- -lent to about fifty chests. The opium is nearly all Persian opium and is used by the Government Honopoly as far as possible. It may be necessary to dispose of some of it, and this would have to be done by sale in London unless Singapore with whom I am in communica- -tion on the subject will buy.

All the later seizures were the result of an

organized search of the steamers concerned on information received.

The opium was found concealed in extraordinary places and it was impossible to fix the responsibility on any particular person, though it is practically certain that the whole of the Chinese crews and their stevedores are implicated in every case.

3.

I have the honour to be, sir.

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Amaz

Governor,&c..

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW, M.P.,

80..

&C.,

&c...