Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 86

(xii)

SALTPETRE, MUNITIONS OF WAR.

These articles are smuggled under the same conditions as opium, by concealment in trading vessels, and by small boats employed to elude detection at night.

GENERAL REMARKS.

So long as a commodity so portable as Opium is heavily taxed, and Salt, an article of common necessity, is made the subject of an oppressive monopoly, contraband trade in both will continue along a Coast so extended as that of China, with or without the existence of Hongkong as a Foreign Colony.

The Island of Hongkong is separated from the Mainland of China by a narrow Strait, varying from half a mile to four miles in breadth, and situated along a shore line faced by a range of high mountains to be crossed only by three or four steep passes. This geographical position, so favourable for a preventive service, whilst affording the Chinese Government the ready means of protecting its revenue, which would be wanting if the Colony were placed at a greater distance, and the Cruisers had to guard an extended length of Coast, is, nevertheless, from the numerous bays, creeks, and inlets along the Chinese Coast, a constant source of annoyance to the Government of China, and induces the maintenance of an armed flotilla for miles up and down the Coast opposite Hongkong.

The measures put in force by the preventive service involve a vexatious inter- ference with the legitimate trade of the Colony, and there is good reason to believe that levies are made which are unknown to and are unauthorised by the Chinese Government. Cruisers are licensed and sub-licensed by very questionable authority, and are guilty of irregular and quasi-piratical acts. It is in evidence that the crews of these vessels are not unaccustomed to convert to their own use, without any official proceedings for con- demnation, goods which they have seized on allegation of being smuggled or contraband (see the Opium case tried, December, 1876, in the Supreme Court, Inspector CAMERON'S evidence, Appendix pages 5 to 7; see also the Saltpetre case tried in the Supreme Court January, 1883, in which it is shown that an irresponsible Chinese obtained from his brother a paper which had been granted to him by the lekin board, and commanded an armed launch in the vicinity of the Harbour, where he captured a junk with Saltpetre, and was about to sell the cargo or part of it in the Colony, when the owners called in the police and charged three men in possession of it as pirates. See also a case in July last where the Chinese flag was used to commit an act of piracy. Appendix, pages 76 to 83).

The Commissioners refer to the letters of Mr. HEWLETT, H. B. M. Consul at Canton, of the 22nd June, and 27th August, 1880,* in which that gentleman informed the Hongkong Government that the five launches Lits'ap, Tsinghoi, Fits'ap, Ts'apsai, and Lingching, were disowned by the Chinese Government, although flying the Imperial flag and using the Men-of-War anchorage at Hongkong. The Viceroy at Canton admitted that they were engaged in levying the Coast defence tax which was farmed out to a Monopolist, but said he could not reprimand the Commanders as they were not in the Government service. These vessels were all accused of preying unlaw- fully upon the junk trade and seizing boats in British waters. In this connection the

* Not published.