CO129-517-1 Administration and function of Chinese Maritime customs- prevention of smuggling across Chinese frontiers 7-2-1929 - 15-11-1929 — Page 85

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it was estimated, in 1868, that, owing to smuggling, more

than half the import duties on opium were lost to the

revenue, and from other evasions of duty the Hoppo's

personal loss was probably much more. It thus became

evident, as was announced by Viceroy Jui-lin, in a

proclamation dated the 1st July, 1868, that proventive

stations were nooded along the short land-frontier in

the Kowloon peninsula and accordingly "offices for

the levy of the tax on opium" wore established at

Cap-sui-gun, at Lyemun and in Kowloon, while the circum-

jacent waters were patrolled by armed boats. These

measures were most obnoxious to the merchants of Hong

Kong; and in July, 1868, a petition was presented to

Governor Sir R. G. MacDonnell by 112 Hong Kong firms

protesting against this "direct and high-handed attack

upon the commerce of the island" and stating that the

cffcct was "as though we were at war with China and the

port blockaded". Thenceforward this episode was known

as"the blockade of Hong Kong".

was very detrimental to trade.

It lasted many years and

In general the Hoppo's right to take thosc

preventive measures was admitted both by the British

Lcgation at Pcking and by the British Forcign Officc.

But whatever the abstract right in the matter, a Chinese

administration is always attended by abuses, from:

:

intention or laxity of procedure and these forced themselves

upon on the notice of the Hong Kong community and

intensified

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