Copy.
3C3
From H. B.M. Consul General, Batavia. To.H. E. Governor, Hongkong.
sir,
BATAVIA,
11th March, 1919.
Referring to your letter No.2530/1919 of 19th Feb- ruary 1919, regarding the action of the Portuguese Autho- rities in Timor, in inviting tenders for a prepared opium monopoly, I have the honour to inform you that I am mak- ing further enquiries from the British Consular Agent at Koepang, who also looks after British interests in Port-
uguese Timor.
My information at present is confined to the
following: -
The British Consular Agent at Koepang reported on
October 23rd 1918 that according to an official "Boletin" of the Portuguese Tinor Government dated 21st September 1918, the Government were to sell by public auction on January 18th 1919 the Opium Monopoly, and that a Mr.Kwok- U-Shun, a chinese resident of Hongkong now resident in Portuguese Timor and a member of the Int.Petroleum Co.Ltd. had approached him to learn whether the British Govern-
ment would allow to export of raw opium to Portuguese
Timor if he or any other person purchased the monopoly.
On my learning further that Mr.Kwok-U-Shun proposed
to obtain his opium supplies from India, I gave these particulars and approached the Foreign Department of the
Government of India on his behalf to learn whether he
could purchase opium in India for despatch to Portuguese
Timor.
I was then informed by the Finance Department of the
Government of India on the 7th December 1918 that this
party could obtain opium at the Calcutta auctions and that export would be allowed on his obtaining a pass from the
Bengal Board of Revenue and complying with the prescribed
requirements.
On/
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