CO129-513-5 Coastal and river trade- prevention of smuggling and illicit trading 15-10-1928 - 14-12-1929 — Page 123

Copy.

5/28.

Sir,

From Commissioner for Foreign Affairs,

Canton,

31st December, 1927.

(Received 6th January, 1928).

121

I have the honour to inform you that

I am in receipt of a despatch from the acting Commiss- ioner of Finance stating that he has received a communication from the Central Opiun Suppression Bureau containing the following telegraphic report from Mou Yut-tan Head of the Test River Inspection Station:-

"Informers have reported that steamers flying the British flag sailing between Suchow and Hong Kong have smuggled opium wholesale. On the 1st December at 6.30 A.M. there was found at the bottom of the hold

of the S.S. "Sunning", a ship flying the British flag and plying between Tuchow and Hong Kong, 43 jars each containing 500 catties of opium, that is in all 21,500 catties. The captain of the ship and the ship's Compradore themselves handed over the two men, Pun To and Lam len, who had acted for others in this illicit traffic. The same evening at 10.00 P.. there was found and seized on the S.S. "Wing Hung", a ship also flying the British flag and on the same run, 101 jars each contigning 500 catties of opium, 30 packages each containing 90 ounces, and 20 tins each also containing 90 catties. The Captain himself, at the time of its detection, handed over Chung Ting the Second Engineer, Chung Wing Engine-cleaner and Chiu Tin baggage master. The malefactors have been forwarded to Canton for

trial