The Portland daily press., 1900-10-19
HONG KONG'S DOPE FARMER
The Big Dinner with Which He Re-
tires from Office.
CChicago Timss-Herald. }

In the colony Of Hong Kong there is a
Chinaman who, while his brief reign
lasts, is SPOKEN of by the quarter OF a
million OF his fellow eountrymen on the
island with bated breath. To these Celes-
tials, subjects of Queen Victoria, the
Emperor of China is not nearly so great
man as the "Opium farmer,' and the
Queen herself com pared with 'his might
mess of the drug" is in their eyes only
far-away sovereign, not half so imposing
In order to regulate to some extent
the Importation OF opium into Hong
Kong and to simplify the collection Of
duties the British government several
years ago decided to place the whole
business IN the hands of one man, Real
izing, however, the tremend dous and arbi-
trary power that could be welded by a
single individual in such position, it
was also decided that the officer should
not be allowed to keep 1t for more than
single term So it was announced 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 be.
come an annual event. The highest bid
generally ranges from 600, ,O00 to 100000
taels, according to the prospects Of the
poppJ crop Tor the year, and the condi-
tion OF the market The successful appIi-
can't is duly gazetted in his position, and
he is given the assistance Of a fleet Of a
dozen swift government customs vessels
to protect his Interests, He himself en-
ploys several Junks to guard his business
against smuggIers, but he must only use
these boats for the purpose OF obtaining
information. If he obUains knowledge of
smuggling operations be turns it over to
the authorities, who run the malefactors
down. Nearly every week In the year
there is a smart skirmish between the
sampans Of the smugglers from the main
land Of China and the revenue cutters.
Pretty little battles some of them are,
too, and very useful in giving young
British midd1es and junior naval officers
tn cir first taste Of sea fighting.
The opium farmer has the sole control
Of every pound or the drug brought into
Hong Kong, and he generally makes from
SS0O, OOO 90 SSUOs OOO clear profit IN his year
OF once Inc government gets mch more
from him than it could secure If 1t at
tempted co collect the duties itself, and,
moreover, gets 1t in a lump sum without
the enormous amount Of trouble and the
large Ioree OF O1hcers that would other
wise be necessary. The opium farmer S
salarled men watch all incoming boats
ana as IL Is 2 case OF Chinaman against
Cnlnanan very little Of the raw material
gets past him.
At the end OF his term OF Office he gives
q great dinner to government officials
newspaper men and thu leading Chinese
merchants Or the colony. This dinner
- one OF 1ne three great events EOf the
hong Kong year. The other two are the
polo cham p1OnShID games and the sham
Dat6ie De6SFee0 the troops IN the garrison.
as matter OF fact, though natural
edg1ng II. che white people OF Hong Kong
IooA on eh4s unique dinner as by far the
mos5 interesting affair In She social cal.
endar.
When a Chinaman makes up his mind
20 10 tnlng handsomely he generally
goes 60 the limit. The opium farmer al
ways Hakes MS dinner, which is a sort
OF IareWeI1 60 his brief reign Of car Of
0he opium slnO kars something to be re-
tle1hDefeo DF ~A1S white friends Indeed,
I6 ne Iays asloe 2. large sum CT money, from
e<sOOO W 500 Eor the banquet and al
M - - as legitimate 15eln OF
1-1ll eApeLlso nIls1o ne figures up his bid to the
gOVern1nen6 sE the beginning of the year.
a week DeE0C9 the close OF his term of
Ol1oe Une IarIner sends out his invita-
luis clOis. 1ness SEe always verbal, delivered
20 Gns Iuck4 recipient By a shroff, a polite
ie 1aetVe cIeEks Who comes to your door
WIN WIZ, smile a0d q bow, clad in a lone
lI-- DIus goEFR TsSsca1ng to his heels. and tells
yo-i OhsaO MS master desires the honor O.
your pr9ssnca at The Wong Tai In Res
taurant ''uO mOdeSflv s1n Win hin, fo- -r,s
a little dish Or two n token Of vour eood sS1r
will. = --o" - 0'- soOO
Ine 1nElsaEiOn needs no response. The
l-s sllLell oll1-7s -s TOR granted that you would
sepons UP 20 Europe to get TO thaf
.-lll.7' ulllleI' e.Llo Ne Is right. There are ns
'@0''HO SEATS s1en the ceremonies begin