This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[13982]
[April 24.]
SECTION 4.
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 24.)
(No. 154.) Sir,
Peking, March 31, 1908.
IN my despatch No. 107 of the 30th instant I had the honour to inclose translation of a note from the Wai-wu Pu, informing me that telegraphic instructions had been sent to the Viceroy at Canton to take the necessary steps for prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China into Hong Kong.
I have now received a communication from the Wai-wu Pu, of which I have the honour to inclose a translation herewith, stating that the Viceroy has taken effective action locally, and that an Imperial Rescript has been issued prohibiting trade in prepared opium with Hong Kong.
In accordance with the request of the Chinese Government, I have communicated with the Governor of Hong Kong, sending him a copy of the Wai-wu Pu's note under cover of a despatch, copy of which is also inclosed herewith.
I have, &c. (For His Majesty's Minister),
(Signed)
STEPHEN LEECH.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Prince Ch'ing to Sir J. Jordan.
Peking, March 24, 1908.
I HAVE the honour to refer your Excellency to your note of the 30th January on the subject of the prohibition of the trade in prepared opium between China and Hong Kong.
[His Majesty's Minister's note of January 30 quoted at length.]
As the prohibition of the import of Chinese opium into Hong Kong could only be made effective if the local officials were made responsible for its enforcement, the Board requested the Viceroy at Canton to take active steps to put the prohibition in force. His Excellency, in his reply, states that he is in receipt of the following report from the Commissioner of Customs at Kowloon, whom he had directed to investigate the matter:--
"The trade in prepared opium at Hong Kong is a monopoly in the hands of certain merchants, and the import of prepared opium from other places is already prohibited; an extremely strict system of customs inspection is in force, and there is no open importation into Hong Kong. As, however, prepared opium sells at over 3 dollars an ounce in Hong Kong (twice the price paid in the interior of China), it is inevitable that some smuggling should go on for the sake of the profit obtainable. Most of this prepared opium is brought from Shanghai, Swatow, and the West River by steam-ships and sailing-vessels of various classes, which anchor in British waters, where we are unable to search them."
The Viceroy states that he has ordered all customs and li-kin stations, as well as the Commissioners of Customs and local authorities, to take preventive measures, and has issued a Proclamation in explicit terms with a view to putting a stop to the illicit trade in opium.
On the 22nd instant the Board presented a Memorial to the Throne, stating that the British Government had agreed that each country should take steps to prevent the smuggling of opium into its own territory, and recommending that the trade in prepared opium to Hong Kong should be prohibited. An Imperial Rescript sanctioning the Memorial was received, and instructions were issued accordingly to all the provincial authorities.
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