Opium Trade and Official Depository

The opium trade of Macao can be traced back as early as the Ming dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi and of Emperor Tongzhi of Qing dynasty, the small jetty at North Bay and “Si Da Hau” were reserved for import of opium. To facilitate the levying of duties on the imported opium, the Portuguese government of Macao constructed warehouses (known as “official depository”) along the jetties for its storage. The recipients of the imported opium must pay the respective duties before retrieving it from the official depository for downline sales and distribution. By mid-19th century, Macao Governor José Maria da Ponte e Horta decided to enlarge the “Si Da Hau” area by reclaiming its silted up waterway into land. A new jetty was constructed on the reclaimed land while the open space in the central was named Ponte e Horta Plaza to mark this land reclamation initiated by Governor José Maria da Ponte e Horta. More official depository was being constructed during early 20th century. When the local Portuguese government announced a complete ban on the trade and use of opium in the 1950s, these warehouses were demolished or modified for other purposes.

The 2nd Clinic of Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society is nowadays seated in a building at the intersection of Rua das Lorchas and Ponte e Horta Plaza. This structure used be part of an official depository constructed in late 19th century and had been referred as the “Opium House”. In 1992, the building was included into the Macao Heritage List. By 2001, the 2nd Clinic of Tung Sin Tong Charitable Society was relocated from Travessa do Auto Novo to the building where it renders Chinese acupuncture and Western medical consultations and treatment to the public.