CO129-442 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [4-6] — Page 519

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Extract from a Memorandum by Mr. R.0.Hutchison,

Superintendent of Imports & Exports

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

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The importance of Mr. Taylor's work cannot be over-estimated. He is in charge of the Opium Factory and is responsible not only for the large stock of raw opium but also for the output of prepared opium. This means that he is

responsible that no leakage occurs during manufacture and that

the prepared opium produced is kept at a high standard. This latter

is to my mind of the utmost importance to the revenue of the Colony as it is one of the main factors in preventing smuggled opium coming on the local market. Samples are taken regularly from the local retailers and tested by Mr. Taylor to prevent

adulteration by licensees.

Mr. Taylor is also largely responsible for the

liquors and tobacco in bond. All technical questions concerning

either of these are referred to him. The taking of stock at the

various warehouses is done under his supervision. Under the system of control which obtains in the Colony the regular and

accurate taking of stock at the various warehouses is essential. It has been found more and more necessary to increase such stock- takings and to ensure that they are properly done.

In the introduction of duties on tobacco Mr.

Taylor's assistance was invaluable to me, and the amount of extra work thrown on him has been considerable. The two factories, the Canton Hanyang Cigarette Factory and the Oriente Cigar Factory are directly under his control and considerable work is involved in devising methods to check the output of such factories ng compared with their receipt of raw tobacco. The assessment of duty on the various brands of cigars and cigarettes is done by Mr. Taylor and continual vigilance is necessary to prevent fraud by change of weights or other methods. Stock taking at the