Jacobus,
you need to be careful with your history - I'm guessing you have read pro-Swire book's.....
Butterfield Swire setup in Shanghai in 1866, spreading out to offices all over China, including HKG by 1870 - now here is the part of history that you may not have read or chose to ignore:
"Nevertheless, in spite of this poor showing, in spite of the decrease in opium importation as compared with the balmy days, all is not lost. The Crown Colony of Hongkong still continues to do an active trade. In the Colonial Office List for 1917, on page 218, we read: "Hongkong. Revenue: About one-third of the revenue is derived from the Opium Monopoly."
Of course Swire might not have been involved.....they could have been angelic, sweet little boys or:
of the total export Of 224 chests, 186 went to Shanghai
But no, I'm making insinuations here, I hope it's not upsetting for you Jacobus, or is your heavenly vision of Swire going up in a blue, curling, whisp of opium smoke?
Ho, ho, ho!
N1 Vibes
