Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 177

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the facts are :—

a. There is no large contraband trade in Opium carried on between this Colony and the China Coast. On the contrary the Opium smuggled, considering the extent of the trade, is inconsiderable and for the most part is carried into China in small quantities, portable and easily concealed, just as parcels of tobacco are smuggled into the United Kingdom.

b. That within the knowledge of the Harbour Master and the Colonial Police Authorities no armed junks have been fitted out in this harbour during the last five years for the purpose of Opium smuggling. Smuggling of Opium, when attempted at all otherwise than by passengers in the various steamers trading to the Coast of China, is carried on in ordinary trading junks or in rowing boats dependent for success in their illicit trade upon their swiftness and small size,

c. No such contests as those referred to in allegation c. have taken place within the last five years, and no loss of life in connection with Opium smuggling during the same period has come under the notice of the Police. Any serious affrays attended with loss of life which have occurred in the neighbourhood of this Colony between Native vessels and Revenue Cruisers, have been in connection with contraband traffic in other articles on the adjacent China Coast with which, so far as is known, this Colony has had no concern. The only instance reported by the Police in which Revenue Officers have been injured, was the case of the Salt junk referred to above and shown to be a purely Chinese affair.

It

may be added that on goods other than Opium there is very little if any illicit trade carried on between this Colony and the mainland, and that no allegation has ever been made that foreigners are engaged directly or indirectly in smuggling of any kind.

In conclusion the Committee cannot refrain from expressing regret that Sir JOHN POPE HENNESSY having had the fullest opportunities as Governor of this Island for five years of obtaining accurate infor- mation with regard to occurrences taking place and the state of affairs prevailing here during his term of office, should have been led to make statements, unfounded in fact and misleading in the inferences they are calculated to raise, which could not fail to damage the character of the Colony, the legitimate interests of which it might justly have been expected he would have been most anxious to defend.

Copies of this letter will be sent through His Excellency the Administrator to Her Majesty's Prin- cipal Secretary of State for the Colonies, and to the various Chambers of Commerce in the United King- dom.

CHARLES MAGNIAC, Esq., M.P.,

I am, Sir,

President of the London Chamber of Commerce,

LONDON.

Your most obedient Servant,

(Signed)

F. BULKELEY JOHNSON,

Chairman.