Extract from "Hong Kong Daily Press", dated 27th April, 1928.
60
MACAO GOVERNMENT'S OPIUM
MONOPOLY.
OFFICIAL'S ACTION AGAINST MR. LEE HYSAN.
CHARGE OF SUB ROSA FARMING OUT.
A PETITION TO THE GOVERNOR OF MACAO.
An action for libel relating to the Macao Government's Opium Monopoly and its administration was begun in the Supreme Court yesterday before the Chief Justice (Sir Henry Gollan). The plaintiff was Mr. Pedro Jose Lobo, an official of the Macao Government, who ɛued Mr. Lee Hysan, one of the best known figures in the Chinese community of Hong Kong, claiming damages and an injunction to restrain defendant from further publication of the words complained of.
The alleged libel was contained in a petition presented to H.E. Governor of Macao which suggested, among other things, that $120,000 had been paid by the Yau Seng Company to obtain a virtual control of the Macao Government's monopoly in opium, for the management of which the plaintiff had been responsible since the Government took the opium monopoly and abandoned the method of farming out.
The defence pleaded that the said petition was not defamatory to the defendant and further that the petition was privileged.
Mr. C. G. Alabaster, K.C., and
"For obtaining this privilege Mr. H. G. Sheldon (instructed not only has much effort been ex- tended by influential persons but by Messrs. Lee and Russ), appear the sum of $120,000 has been ex- ed for plaintiff, whilst Mr. Eldon pended. According to the an. Potter, K.C., and Mr. F. C. Jen-nouncement of the Company to the kin (instructed by Messrs. Wilkin- son and Grist), appeared for de- fendant.
shareholders, the sum of $70,000 was paid through Ah Nok's hand to Tuk Po (here appeared the words Chinese character sound')
In opening the case Mr. Alabas-(you can find out the meaning of it or who he is) and the sum of ter said that the plaintiff claimed $60,000 through Lo Bo to Tsoi Teng damages for a libel contained in (here appeared the words 'Chinese find a petition to H.E. the Governor of character sound') (you can
out the meaning of it and who he Macao.
is) and for all other expenses in-
The document was a translation|clusive." of a letter in Chinese from Fung Cheong to the defendant.
The document stated that: "The Yau Seng Company, has acquired this opium monopoly not by successful tender in open com- petition but through the influence of certain persons.
It is Ah Nok and the new Opium Officer, Lo Bo (here appeared the words "Chinese character sound') who used their influence to put matters through. The Government allowed this Com-
to do what pany
they like. Nominally, it is a Government monopoly run according to law, but in fact it is a case in which the head of a sheep was hung for a signboard and dog's flesh was sold instead.
The letter also stated that the writer had been told that the Yau Seng Company had openly invited people in Hong Kong, Canton and Macao to subscribe towards the share capital and the limit thereto was $2,000,000. The writer had asked his friend to lend him some share scrip of the Yau Seng Com- "He said he pany for exhibition. could sell his scrip to me ranging from $50 to $1,000 each and I could buy from him at any time. Now I have bought a receipt for $100 shares and I enclose same herewith. Inspection thereof will make you understand (all).”
"Bribery And Corruption." Counsel continued that plaintiff claimed that the words quoted
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