:
103
14.
In accordance with the advice of
the Executive Council the list of 52 Divans was handed to
the Opium Farmer, and on the 3rd. ultimo Mr. Ch'an K'ai-
-meng met Mr. Clementi and submitted the following pro-
:
-posals:-
(a).
In the event of the abolition
of all Divans Mr. Ch'an stated that the Opium Farmer would
olaim a reduction of $50,000 per mensem in his rental and
after much argument added as an unauthorized expression of
his personal opinion that under no circumstances could an
offer of less than $45,000 per mensem (viz.:- $540,000 per
annum) be entertained.
(b).
In the event of the 52 Divans on
the list handed to the Opium Farmer being abolished, Mr.
Ch'an stated that the Farm would claim a reduction of
$7,500 per mensem ($90,000 per annum) in the rental: but
he submitted an alternative list of 52 Divans,
selected
by the Opium Farmer, and stated that, if these Divans were
alosed, the Farm would claim a reduction of $7,000 per
mensem ($84,000 per annum) in the rental. The Divans in the
former list have been marked 'A' and those in the latter
list 'B', in the margin of Mr. Hutchison's report.
15.
I enclose a copy of a minute by
Mr.