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Return of Cases brought before the Marine Magistrate from 1866 to 1877.
(Copy.)
No. 365.
HARBOUR DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 13th November, 1882.
SIR,-In compliance with your directions of the 11th instant, I have the honour to enclose a Return of the cases brought before the Marine Court since April, 1877.
The Return will show the class of vessels employed in Opium smuggling, together with their crews and armament, but it must be borne in mind that all Junks, whether smuggling or trading, are armed as are the vessels in this Return.
The vessels employed as smugglers have for some time been fast pulling boats which can creep along the shore unobserved, and if they are seen, the crews are enabled to land and escape with their cargoes.
I may remark that none of the vessels engaged in smuggling are regularly employed as such.
If a man in desirous of smuggling Opium, he hires any vessel that he can get.
In the enclosed Return the last case mentioned is one that came before two Magistrates, the Honour- able NG CHOY and myself, and will show the class of craft employed. The Offender was convicted and his cargo and vessel were ordered to be forfeited--Sub-section 14, Section 38 of Ordinance 8 of 1879. The owner of the Opium appealed to the Supreme Court against this decision, and the Magistrates' finding was reversed, as the vessel was not held to be a "junk or seagoing vessel," and therefore did not come within the meaning of the Ordinance,
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
H. G. THOMSETT,
Harbour Master, &c.
The Honourable F. STEWART, LL.D.,
Acting Colonial Secretary: &c.,
&o..
$0.
RETURN of CASES brought before the MARINE MAGISTRATE under Ordinance 6 of 1866 now Section XXXVIII of Ordinance 8 of 1879, (Junks), since 1st April, 1877.
DATE.
SIZE OF VESSEL.
NO. OF CREW,
ARMAMENT.
NATURE OF CHARGE.
CARGO. FINDING.
1877
REMARKS.
12th Nov, Trading Junk,
1878
4,000 piculs, 2361 tons,
20
13th Sept.Fishing Junk,
6
124 piculs, 74
tons.
1880
4th June Trading Junk,
1,000 piculs,
59 tons.
10
Cannons 4, European Muskets 12, Pistols 4, Spears 17, Swords 4, Powder 200 lbs., Mixed Cannon Shot 400 lbs., Bullets 13 Ibs.
European Muskets 4, Pistol 1, Spear 1, Sword 1. Powder 3 ibs., Bullets 5 lbs.
European Muskets 7, Spears 3, Powder 3 Ibs., Bullets 7 lbs.
1880 16th Aug. Fishing Boat,
ร
Nil.
60 piculs, 3
tons.
1880
13th Sept. Small rowing
Boat.
4 Loaded Revolvers 2.
Furnishing untrue parti-
culars to Harbour Office.
40 balls Opium.
Discharged.
Paid 64 Taels and 4 mace Lekin at Hongkong.
Leaving the 350 balls Discharged. Harbour with- Opium.
out a clearance.
Furnishing untrue parti-
culars to Harbour Office.
Neglect to report arrival.
Leaving the waters of the Colony without a clearance.
Opium. Junk and Cargo
forfeited.
90 balls Opium.
Fined 50 cents.
Magistrates ordered Junk and Cargo to be forfeited, Sub-section 9, Section 38 of Ordinance & of 1879.
Minutes of this case sent to Colonial Secretary, on the 7 June, 1880, and not returned to Harbour Office.
Minutes of this case sent to Colonial Secretary, on the 18th August, 1880, and not returned to Harbour Office,
Appealed against and conviction reversed, the vessel not being a "junk or sea-going vessel within the meaning of the Ordi-
nance.
"
Harbour Department,
Hongkong, 13th November, 1882.
(Signed)
H. G. THOMSEtt, R.N., Harbour Master, &c.
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