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special stress on the effective measures being taken to stop this illicit importation", that what the Chinese Government really want is that this Government take more effective steps to stop the smuggling of prepared Opium from this Colony into China.
Measures involving amendments of the Raw and Prepared Opium Ordinances might be devised by which the smuggling both of raw and prepared Opium out of Hongkong would be rendered very much more difficult than it is at present. Such measures could, however, not be adopted till after the expiration of the existing Opium Farm, because they would involve variations of the Grant, and would entail direct and considerable expense on this Government.
But the prevention of smuggling into her borders is a matter which concerns China, and I submit that she should not be given the assistance of this Colony in mitigating such smuggling unless she will purchase that assistance by granting compensating advantages. I submit that this question be brought up for discussion a year hence when, if the other questions alluded to are solved, others will without doubt have arisen for the settlement of which this Government would be anxious to negotiate.
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