Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25
HONG KONG.s OPIUM FARMER.
Position Lasts Only Year. but Makes
It's Holder Rich.

Position Lasts Only Year. but Makes
Its Holder Rich.
From the Chicago Times Herald.
In the colony of Hong Kong there is
Chinaman who, while his brief reign lasts
is spoken of by the quarter of a million of
his fellow countrymen on the island with
bated breath. To these celestials, subjects
of Queen Victoria, the Emperor of China is
not nearly great a man as the opium
farmer and the queen herself. compared
with Ibis mightiness of the drug" is in
their eyes only a far-away sovereign, not
half imposing.
In order to regulate to some extent the
importation of opium into Hong Kong and
to simplify the collection of duties the Brit
ish government several years ago decided to
place the whole business in the hands of
one man. Realizing, however, the tremen-
deus and arbitrary power that could be
welded by single individual in such a po-
siticn, it was also decided that the office
should only be held one year, and that no
person should be allowed to keep it for
more than a single term. So it was
nounced that the government was prepared
to accept bids for the privilege.
Since that time the selection of an opium
farmer. as he is called has become an an
nual event The highest bid generally
ranges from 100000 to $4,000 taels, accord
ing to the prospects of the poppy crop for
the year and the condition of the market.
The successful applicant is duly gazetted
in his position, and he is given the as
sistance of a fleet of a dozen swift govern
nient customs vessels to protect his inter-
ests. He himself employs several junks to
guard his business against smugglers, but
he must only use these boats for the pur
pose Of obtaining information. If he Sc
cures knowledge of smuggling operations he
turns 1t over to the authorities, who run
the malefactors down. Nearly every week
IN the year there is smart skirmish be-
hn Goo,
the mainland of China and the revenue cut
tiers. Pretty little battles some Of them
are, too. and very useful in giving young
British middies and junior naval officers
their first taste Of sea fighting.
The opium farmer has the sole control of
every pound of the drug brought into Hong
Kong, and he generally makes from $25O,0UO
to 100000 clear profit in his year of office.
The government gets much more from him
than it could secure if it attempted to col
lect the duties itself, and. moreover, gets
it in lump sum without the enormous
amount of trouble and the large force of
officers that would otherwise be necessary.
The opium farmers salaried men watch all
incoming boats. and as it is case of China
man against Chinaman very little of the
raw material gets past him:
AT the end of his term of Office he gives
a great dinner to government officials,
newspaper men and the leading Chinese
merchants of the colony. This dinner is
one of the three great events of the Hong
championship games and the sham battle
between the troops in the garrison. AS q
matter of fact, though natural pride keeps
them from openly acknowledging 1t, the
white people of Hong Kong look on this
unique dinner by far the most interest
ing affair in the social calendar.
When Chinaman makes up his mind to
do q thing handsomely he generally goes to
the limit. The opium farmer always makes
his dinner. which is a sort of farewell to
his brief reign of car of the opium smokers,
something to be remembered by his white
friends. Indeed. he lays aside a large sum
of money from $4,000 TO $4,000, for the
banquet, and always reckons 1t as legiti-
mate item of expense when he figures up
his bid to the government at the beginning
of the year.
A week before the close of his term of
Office the farmer sends out his invitations.
These are always verbal, delivered to the
lucky recipient by a Shroff, a polite native
clerk. who comes to your door with smile
and bow. clad in long blue gown reach
ing TO his heels and tells You that his mas
ter desires the honor of your presence at
! the Wong Tai Lo restaurant ito modestly
sup with him from, little dish or two in
token of your good Will"
The invitation needs no response. The
shroff takes it for granted that you would
postpone trip to Europe to get to that din
ner and he is right There are no vacant
seats when the ceremonies begin.
The Wong Tai Lo restaurant, where all
these affairs are given, is The Chinese Del
heart of the native quarter. a five-story
frame building, elaborately carved, with
broad balconies laden with Towering plants
and creepers and the usual huge feast Ian
terms swaying in the wind
You are met at the ground floor entrance