Decypher Mr Max Muller, Peking
d. 5.35
r. 3.45
pm June 11.
No. 110 R.
Your tel No 94.
137
C O
17762
RECO Rrof 13 JUN 10
I received the same day fresh telegram from Hong Kong Chamber of
Commerce stating that tax was being enforced ☀ & that the British
opium merchants had requested stoppage of
shipments from Hong Kong to Kwangtung. I telegraphed to HM
Consul-Generap at Canton the instructions contained in your tele-
gram, at the same time informing Chamber of Commerce. He re-
plied that regulations ENXXXIX enforcing tax on prepared opium
came into force on June 7 & that he has forwarded copy to me, that they
/clearly state that tax of 30 cents on every ounce of prepared
tobacco is to be paid by prepared opium merchants to collecting
office, that main object is to be prevention of storing of large
by stocks of opium & that he had been informed XXXX Sassoon's agent
that in his opinion the regulations which are equally aplicable
to native opium do not infringe Chefoo additional article.
I must await receipt of regulations before I can form definite
opinion but meanwhile I shall mention matter at Wai-wu Pu,