310.
The Committee of this Chamber has on more than one occasion in the past been obliged to protect attempts оп the part of the Chinese authorities in the neighbouring provinces to interfere with the foreign opium trade, and believe that, unless the aning Viceroy is compelled to abandon his proposed creation of a monopoly, similar causes for complaint will shortly arise in the provinces of the Two Kwang,
I have, therefore, the honour to request that His Excellency the Governor will be good enough to give this matter his consideration | and trust that he will support the hamber in protesting against this proposed infring-ment of our treaty rights and request the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to represent the matter in this light to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. In support of our contention that the establish. ment of the proposed monopoly is contrary to treaty, I would beg to refer to the following:- Article V of the British Treaty of Nanking 1842:-
"The Government of China having compelled the British Merchant trading at Canton to deal exclusively with certain Chinese Mer- chante, called Hong Merchants (or Co-Hoag), who had been licensed by the Chinese Govern. ment for this purpose, the Emperor of China agrees to abolish that practice in future at all ports where British Merchants may reside, and to permit them to carry on their mercautile transactions with whatever persons they please; and His Imperial Majesty further agrees to pay to the British Government the sum of three millions of dollars, on account of d-bis due to British subjects by some of the said Hong Merchants, or Co-Hong, who have become insolvent, and who owe very large sums of money to subjects of Her Britannic Majesty.'
Article X. of the same Treaty:
"
His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to establish at all the ports which are by Article II of this Treaty, to be thrown op n for the resort of British Merchants, a fair and regular tariff of export and import customs and other dues, which tariff shall be publicly notified and promulgated for general informa- tion; and the Emperor further engages that, when British merchandise shill bave once paid at any of the said ports the regulated customs and, dues, agreeable of the tariff to be hereafter fixed, such mar. chandise may by conveyed by Chinese Merchants to any provinca or city in the interior of the empire of China, on paying a further amount as transit duties, which shall not exceed-per cent. on the tariff value of such goods,"
Article XIV of the French Treaty of Tientsin of 1858 :-
"Aucune société de commerce privilegice ne pourra désormais s'établir en Chine, et il en sera de même de toute coalition organ'sé dans le but d'exercer une monopole sur le commerce. En cas de contravention au present Article, les autorités chinoises, sur les representations du consul ou de l'agent consulaire, aviseront aux moyens de dissoudre de semblables association dont elles s'efforceront d'ailleurs de
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
For the information of His Excellency beg to enclose.
1. Copy of letter received from the British firms in Hongkong, dated 27th August.
2. Copy of letter addressed to H. B. M. Consul General at Shanghi by the foreign opium dealers at that port, dated 17th June.
3. Copy of letter addressed to the Chairman of the China Association at Shanghai by the same firms dated 11 h Jaly.
4. Copy of letter addressed to H. B. M. Consul General at Shanghai by the opium firms, dated 2nd August.
5. 2 extracts from "Sin Wan Pao". 6. Translation of a letter received by the foreign opium firms at Shanghai from the Opium Guild.
7. Translation of an Official despatch published in the "Suth China Journal" of the Viceroy of Liang Kiang re, the erection of an Opium Monopoly Office.
Since writing the above the translation of a proclamation issued by the officers in charge of the so called Kiang Nan Anti-Opium and Goverum-ut Monopoly Burean has teen received, copy of which is enclosed (No. 8).
Although the Burean attempts to shield itself under the title of "Anti-opium" and the proclamation comm nces with reference to the Dec ees which have been promulgated probibit- ing the sale of the drog, it is very evident that the establishment of a Government Monopoly with its accompanying revenue is the main factor.
The proclamation explains the situation very clearly. All dealers are now obliged to take a licens and must sell their opium exclusively to the Bureau.
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November 11, 1907]
to this Committee desirable to point out at this stage the risk which we rua of having a valuable section of British trade destroyed solely for the ben-fit of native competition.
A is well known the local officials are all opposed to the importation of foreign opium not only is the import duty, but also the fall likio, collected at the port of entry, and being remitted to Peking by the Imperial Maritime Customs all chance of undue profit therefrom is lost to the Provincial Authorities who are what is to them an antared article passing their barriers and competing with their own opium,
The calivation of native opium is largely in the hands of high Chinese Officials and is of course, a 8 uros of enormous revenue to them and to all through whose districts it piss08 or in which it is consumed.
It is qui e probable thit several of the leading officials in the Empire are quite sincere in their wish to check the pro laotion and consumption of opium, in «hich no doubt they are being, to a certain extent, supported by what may be described as a popular movement but though edicts to this effect may be issued, it is quite another matter to carry them into effect, particularly in the more distaut parts of the Empire a d it is incoueivable that within so shot a space of time as ten years the whole cul ivation of the poppy can be put an end to.
Large districts in many of the provinces and countless thousands of Chinese of all classes are dependent upon this opium industry for a ring and too sadden a change, if they are forced to stop the production, or transportation, of opium can only result in failure of the mrement or r-billion.
The point therefore that the Committee After stating that the number of licences will would wish to impress upon His Exo-llency is be limited the following siguificant paragraph that no steps should b taken by His Majesty's appears "Those (xisting desiers in (pium) Government to curtail the foreign opium trade who wish to change their trade are at liberty tanti thee is ample vidence that a proportionate do so."
redac ion is being made in the production of the native drug.
The public opium shops and divans being closed, the sale of opium is to be farmed out la those who have sufficient capital to engage in the business or, by providing guarantees, can obtain licences to act as sub-agents for the Bureau.
The value of the movement as an anti-opiam crus de is sh wa by the fact that for the population of Nanking no less than two hundred prepared Opium establishm-ats are to be start d 120 in the city itself and SO in the suburbs.
His
The question of interferenc with the opium trade by high Chinese (fficials having a been raised, the ommittee consider this a fitting opportunity for laying before Excellency certain points in relation to the proposed gradual suppression of the opium business which appear to them worthy of note.
It is not easy to correctly estimate the total amount of opium consumed in China, bat as is well known, the habit is universal and extends throughout the whole of the Empire.
Rou bly it may be estimated that the foreign opium imported into China represents about a tenth of the total consumption, but of lat years while the area under poppy cultivation in China bas steadily increased, the importation of Indian and Persian opium has ieclined. This cha: g is at all events in part due to the fact that the production of opium is one of the most remunerative crops in the whole Empire, There can be no question but that in view | while owing to the gradual improvement of the above the action of the Nanking Viceroy in the quality of the native drug, this is gra. is illegal and contrary to treaty.
dually replacing the more expensive imported article-.
prévenir l'existence par des prohibitions préalables, afin d'ecarter tout ce qui pourrait porter atteinte à la libre concurrence."
The British firms in Shangbai, in order to protect their interests have agreed not to sell opium to the Government monopolists, and in this way they have the support of the Chinese Opium Guild which is controlled by nitives of Swatow. The monopolist, therefore, finding himself unable to procure opium with which to orush the basiness of the old established firms is now purchasing opium in Hongkong, where owing to the different conditions which obtain as regards the guilds, it is impossible for the dealers to come to an agreement to prevent the opium being secured for Nanking.
We understand that strong protests against the action of the Viceroy have already b en sent to Peking but as the representations on the subject made by the British Minister in the Waiwupa have as yet not had the desired effect, it appears to the Committee of this Chamber that this Colony should also join in protesting against so flagrant a violation of the treaties.
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Without going into the question as to whe. ther it is wise, even if possible, to entirely suppress the use of te drug, it will be perhaps
as well to remark that all nice races live some sort of stimulant or drag, the use of waich, so long as it is not abused, cannot be obj-cted to, except by a few extreme enthusiasts
The total suppression of the use of opium in China if carried in effect may bring a stil worse evil upon the country and this has already been foreshadowed by the inoressed use of so called "anti-piam pills and morphine, the a** of the latter, by hyp dermic injection, being on the increase, particularly in the neighbourhood of the treaty ports, to an alarming extent.
While admitting that the Bri-h Govern mant should do all in its power to assis the Imperial Government in any serious attempt which may be made to curtail and ultimately perhaps suppress the use of opium, it appears
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The Committee consider that, as matters now stand, there is no guarantee that the Provincial Authorities as a whole seriously intend to suppress the opiam smoking but are merely taking advantage of the present more. ment to further their own personal ends aud increase their own revenue at the expense of arry vilnable -ee inn of British trade.
For the information of His Excellency I bg to enclose copy of a telegram which is betag sen through the Hongkong and Shang- si Banking Corporation to His Majesty's Minister at P-king to whom a copy of this letter will also b·forwarded. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,
صحت
(8g) EDBERT A. HEWETT
Chairman.
The Honourable F. H. MAY, C.M.G..
Colonial Secretary,
Hongkong.
Hongkong 27th August, 1987.
Hon. Mr. E. A. HEWETT,
Chairman,
Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, SIR-We have the honour to bring to your attention the following copies of correspondenos in connection with the intestion of the Vio-roy st Nanking to grant a monoply of the Opium trade in Nanking.
1. Cop of 1-tter addr weed to H.B.M.'. Consul en-ral at Shanghai by the foreign opium dealers there dated 27th Jane.
2. Cp. of latter addressed to the Chairman | of the China Association dated 11th July.
3. Copy of letter addressed to H.B.M.'s Consul General. Shanghai, dated 2nd - agust,
4. Extracts from “zin Wan Pao".
5. Translation of a letter adirossed to im. porters by the Swatow Opium Guild in Shanghai,
6 Translation of an Official despatch publish. ed in the " South China Journal" of the Viceroy of Liang re the erection of an Opium M nopoly (ffice.
In connection with the above, which will give you full information on the matter, we beg to inform you that an emissary of the Vicerpy of Nanking is now in the Ɑ my aud has actually purchased Op um for the Jareau.
We understand that the Chinese Authorities in the other provinces are closely watching the course of events at Naoking with a view, if successful, of forming monopolies in the other centres of the opium trade also.
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