§ MR. WEBB (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a correspondence between the Hong Kong, Canton, and Macao Steamboat Company, and the China Navigation Company, on the one side, and the Government of Hong Kong, on 1844 the other side, in which the companies complain that opium has been smuggled, or been attempted to be smuggled, from Hong Kong to China in their vessels, without their knowledge, but with the connivance, and for the profit of the opium farmer at Hong Kong; and whether the Secretary of State will urge the Government of Hong Kong to adopt, and enforce, all such measures as may be necessary for the prevention of smuggling?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. DE WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethMy attention has not been called to any such correspondence as is referred to by the hon. Member, but the Secretary of State has every reason to believe that the Government of Hong Kong already enforces such measures as appear to be practicable for the prevention of smuggling. A Report will, however, be called for from the Governor on the subject.