Modular Infotech Pvt. Ltd. - DSpace

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1913 Supposing the Superintendent, Government Monopolies cancelled
your licence; what about your $3,?OO?-1 will have to bear the 1051.
1914. He could cancel it at the end of any six months ?-At the end
of 3 months.
1915. Do you take out a fresh licence every quarter or every half
year ?-Every quarter.
1916. What do you pay for the licence ?-$J6 a quarter.
1917. Tell us a little more about this $3,?OO; to whom did you pay
that 1-To BoEY KIT SUN.
1918. He was the previous Iicensee?-Yes, and he was my relative.
1919. What happened to him ?-He has gone back to China.
1920. Had you that $3.700 of your own at the time ?-Part of it I.
borrt>wed money.
1921. Whom did you borrow from ?-From Ho WING CHONG; he i,
a pawn-broker, and has a sundry shop in Kampong Glam. .
1922. What interest do you pay him ?-12 per cent.
1923. He has got no share in your profits ?-l"{o.
1924. How do you make this business pay ? Your margin of profit
1 make out to be the difference between $135 takings and $114 expenditure,
that is $21 a month ?-That is so.
1925. Then it is not a very profitable trade ?-There are some good
months when 1 sell about 4,000 packets.
1926. Are there any lines of profit that you have not told us about 1-
No.
1927. Nothing like taking a little bit out of a packet and making 2,000
Monopolies packets into 2,500 packets given in the shop 1-No.·
1928. Supposing there were any intention to cancel your licence, what
IS your view of the position ?-I shall be deprived of the only means of
livelihood 1 have.
1929. How long have you had this smoking shop ?-About 3 years now.
1930. How old are you ?-35 years.
1931. What did you do before you had this shop ?-I worked in a pawnbroker's
shop. .
1932. 1 suggest to you that Mr. Ho WING CHONG is really the ownec
of your smoking shop ?-No, I am the towkay of that shop.
. 1933· Why can't you go back to pawn-broking ?-I have not sufficient
capItal.
1934· But I understood you to say you were only an employee In a
pawn-broking shop?-Yes.
1935· Then, why can't you go back and become an f'mployee again 1-
Because there are no vacancies.
1936. Are you a married man?-Yes.
1937· How old were you when you first came here ?-I9 years of age.
1938. Have you been back to China ?-No.
1939· Where is your wife ?-In China now. She may return here in
two years' time. .
. 1940. But you are strong enough to find other employment supposing
this employment were not open to you ?-I am not strong.