CO129-508-7 Opium on Macao market 10-1-1928 - 9-11-1928 — Page 24

Report on the examination of some Account Books 24.

relating to the Macau Opium Farm for the years

1924/27.

Introduction.

The previous Farm was to expire on

the 31st December 1923, and some months previous

to this date, advertisements were published by the

Macau Government calling for tenders on the basis of

360 chests of Indian opium for consumption in Macau, and a slightly decreased amount for the next two

years. No tenders were received, and the

advertisement was withdrawn, by order, it was reported, of the finister for the Colonies. Arrangements were come to with the old farmer Lee Hyson, an opium merchant of Hong Kong, to continue

the Farm for another six months, during which time

the form operated under the name of "Ice Shing Company"

In the Spring of 1924 a new call for

tenders for the Farm was made on the basis of 240

chests for consumption in Macau during the first

year and a decreased amount for the next two years.

Again no offers were received, as it was realised

by possible tenderers that there was little

possibility of obtaining Indian opium direct and at reasonable prices.

Negotiations were then entered into

with Lee Hyson once more and he was induced to

undertake the Farm once again, rs the new Hong Kong Opium Ordinance had been introduced and not knowing what the full effect thereof might be he thought it right to keep in the back-ground and to operate through others. He in fact once denied to me that he had anything whatever to do with the cau