701084-1872-Opium-Farm-Report-on- — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD NOVEMBER, 1872.

at 40 balls per chest 144,000 balls at $3.80 $547,200 Add for local consumption,-

497

400 chests at 40 balls each,=16,000 balls

at 80 cents,

Amount received for shop licences,..

$12,800.00 17,124.00

$ 29,924

$577,124

Mr. AGABEG's statement,-

Coincides with that of Mr. SASSOON,

.Total $577,124

Mr. LINSTEAD's statement.—

2,000 chests boiled in one year for export to all parts,

40 balls per chest=80,000 balls, at $3.80 per ball, 500 chests boiled in one year for local consumption, 40 balls per chest=20,000

balls, at 80 cents per ball,.............

Add amount received for shop licenses,.

$304,000

$16,000

17,124

$33,124

$337,124

The above statements, with the exception of those of Messrs. SASSOON and AGABEG, differ so widely from each other, that the Commission have come to the conclusion, that it would not be advis- able to accept any one of them as a basis on which to calculate the revenue that ought to be derived from Prepared Opium. Those of Messrs. SASSOON and AGABEG, although so much in excess of the others, are, in the opinion of the Commission, entitled to great consideration, those gentlemen being, of all others in the Colony, perhaps the most intimately connected with the Opium trade. Mr. LINSTEAD'S evidence must also be considered of some weight, he having, for some time past, devoted his attention to the subject. Of the statements by Chinese witnesses, the Commission attach most weight to that made by FAN-A-WYE, as regards the bona fides of same, although his statistics, for which he has had to depend on other Chinese, may not be correct.

The statement by SEE AHOY, a member of the firm of Monopolists, as regards the export being nine times more than the quantity consumed in the Colony, can hardly be taken as of any statistic value; the evidence given by him was, as a whole, very unsatisfactory,

*

*

*

*

*

The statement of Ho LEONG, (Manager of the Yan Wo Hong or Guild which holds the Monopoly) of the quantities boiled in the licensed shops, if correct, does not show a large profit to the Monopolists as compared with the expenses and risk of the undertaking, although the Government should receive these figures with caution, as coming from parties whose interest it is to make them as small as possible; at the same time, the Commission feel bound to state, that Ho LEONG gave his evidence in a straightforward manner and with every appearance of candour.

In looking at the statement of LEE ACHING, it must be borne in mind, that he was formerly, and is still believed to be, the opponent in trade of the associated five shops, and it seems rather strange to the Commission that if he believed in the figures he has given, that he did not send in a tender the last time the Monopoly was competed for.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

The Commission are of opinion that the most reliable calculation, would be one based on the relative numbers of Chinese, located in the State of California, and adjacent territories, to those in Australia, taking the quantity of Prepared Opium ascertained to be shipped to the latter as correct, or nearly so, and adding to or diminishing same pro rata, as the number of Chinese in California, &c., may be found to exceed, or fall short, of those in Australia.

The Commission have unfortunately been unable to obtain official or printed statistics of these respective populations, although they have made enquiries in every quarter in the Colony where they were likely to be found, the Executive, however, can doubtless obtain them in course of a few months: in the meantime, judging from the statements made from memory by various gentlemen in the Colony acquainted with the subject, although unable to give precise data, it might be safe to assume, that the Chinese population of California, &c., exceeded that of Australia, by fifty per cent, in which case, the calculation would stand thus:-

To Australia, as per exact statistics obtained,. To California, &c., 50 per cent more than above, To Portland, Oregon, Honolulu, Dunedin, Tientsin, &c.,

= 1,599 chests, 40 balls cach=63,960 balls at $3.80 each,... Add for home consumption,

...Taels 651,600

977,400 50,000

Taels 1,679,000

$243,048

22,881

$265,932