CO129-425 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [10-12] — Page 786

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COPY.

(To accompany Enclosure 3.)

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Hongkong, 4th. October, 1911.

The Secretary,

Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce.

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We beg to draw your Committee's attention, with a view to their addressing the Government on the subject, to the hardships and difficulties which surround our trade as the owners of stemmers running between this port and Canton, owing to the attitude, not unnaturally perhaps, assured by the Imperial Maritime Customs regarding the smugling of salt by our vessels to Canton.

For your information we would state thatall river steamers trading between these two ports are granted what are know as Special River Privileges, entitling stegers to enter and clear from the port of Canton between certain hours.

Owing to the prohibitive price levied by the Government Salt Monopolists of the neighbouring Province on salt for some years past, the question of suggling by Chinese of this article into Canton by means of,our steamers has assured serious proportions. In spite of every precaution taken by us and the pre- -ventive staff of the Imperial Maritime Customs smugling is ever increasing. Towards the end of the year 1888 we, with the object of endeavouring to put a check to the mugling of salt and opium, instituted and paid for a preventive staff of our own consisting of some seven men under a foreign supervisor. This expensive staff boards and searches all our steamers and takes all such measures as suggest themselves to prevent or detect smling. During ench voyage of our vessels to Canton a thorough searci. for contra- -bond is instituted by the Ship's officers, and any unmanifested or contraband goods seized are handed over to the Imperial Maritime Customs. From time to time whensmu,led salt or other dutiable goods or contraband have been discovered by the Customs at Canton the withdrawal of the Special River Privileges to the Companies

has