To the Lilitor of the Nowru-Curxa Darty 3 pondent's letter of the 19th charges the Hongkong Gove enabling the Chinese Customs to be defrnuded to the extent of 3,000,000 taels annuully, by the facilities afforded amugelers by the non-existence in the island of @ pre-
He arrives at this en clusive by the fact that 30,000 chests are imported into Hong. kong in excess of the quantity accounted for in the Chinese Customs returns, With out for a moment going into the question: whether these fures are current, will you allow me to point out that assuming that they were so, the loss to the Chinese if the whole 30,000 chests were, as hi eunggled into China would be Tia. 900,000, and not, as he says, 'THs. 3,000,000, the duty evaded bei is. 39 per chest only.
But, as am: for of fact, not only must the quantity consumed inthe Colony be deducted but, the far larger amount re-exported, either us crude or us prepasted opium, sent thence to California and Australia, the large Chinese populations of which are supplied early entirely from Hongkong. utter inefficiency of the natly ventive service must be held to blame for what smuggling des go on, fur it is no part of the duty of the Hongkong Gorernment to protect the Chinese reventie or collection, But apart from this it is well to point out that the extent of the grievance is most grossly exaggerated. Yours truly, 27th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.