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illicit trade was so inconsiderable, as to make it obvious that the concealment of Opium took place in each case in an ordinary trading junk. It is also clear from this Return, that nothing is known in the Harbour Master's Department of the armed organisation for the purpose of Opium smuggling which is stated by Governor HENNESSY to carry on a chronic war with the Empire of China.
The return from the Captain Superintendent of Police dealing with the entire number of cases reported to the Police Authorities during the years 1878 to 1882 (inclusive) of seizures by Chinese Revenue Cruisers and affrays between the Cruisers and Native vessels on the neighbouring China Coast, is instructive.
The number of cases is 23, but of these only 6 are reported to be connected with the Opium Trade, and the value of the Opium seized varies from $3 in one case to the maximum amount in another of $800, showing, in confirmation of the Report by the Harbour Master to a similar effect, the comparatively un- important character of the Opium smuggling which prevails in these waters, and the absurdity of the allegation that there is a large contraband trade conducted in heavily armed junks fitted for the purpose in this harbour.
The remaining 17 cases of seizures by Revenue Cruisers during 5 years do not appear by the returns to have been connected with Opium; 7 of them were Salt junks, 1 Sulphur and Saltpetre, 3 General cargo, and 2 Sugar. In 4 cases the particulars of cargoes are not stated.
The return shows the numbers of casualties with fatal results reported to the Police as having occurred in affrays between Native vessels and the Revenue Cruisers during the period of five years under review. Such casualties have been 8 in number, but not one of them appears to have had any connection with Opium smuggling, or to have arisen out of any case of contraband trading with which this Colony was concerned.
In August 1878, a fisherman on the Hongkong shore was accidentally killed by a shot fired by a Revenue Cruiser when pursuing a junk ultimately seized for some breach of Chinese regulations with general cargo on board.
In May 1879, 3 men of a Revenue Cruiser were killed in an affray with a junk carrying Salt. As Salt is not produced or prepared in this Island, this affray was not generated in the Colony or within Colonial waters. The preparation of Salt in China is conducted as a very strict monopoly by means of Government licenses, and trade in it other than by duly authorized persons is contraband. Serious affrays between Salt smugglers and Revenue Officers are well-known to be common throughout the Empire, they are frequently alluded to in the Peking Gazette, and in the case referred to in the Police Report, the junk must have been passing from one part of the territory of China to another part outside British waters.
On 28th November 1881, a man was killed in a boat which was conveying two gentlemen of this Colony who were returning from a shooting expedition on the mainland. Passing by a Customs Station on the Chinese side of the channel the boat was ordered to heave to, not doing so promptly musket shots were fired at it and one of the crew was most unfortunately killed. In this case, there appears to have been no smuggling attempted.
In April this year a man was killed on board a rowing boat in the narrow channel separating Hong- kong from the mainland, and in June last 2 men were killed outside British waters in a trading junk carrying Sulphur and Saltpetre which are contraband articles of trade in China. In neither case does it appear that Opium was concerned.
With referrence, therefore, to Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY's allegations which were to the following effect:
a. That this Island is the base of operations for a class of desperate men who carry on a large con-
traband trade in Opium with China,
b. That, for the purpose of carrying on that trade, junks heavily armed with cannon are fitted out
here and wage a chronic war with the neighbouring Empire,
c. That these junks engage, within sight of the Island, in naval battles with the Chinese Revenue
Cruisers resulting in large loss of life on both sides,
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