OPY,
510222/20.
137/15/10)
INDIA
OFFICE,
WHITEHALL,
sir,
LONDON, 8.W.
11th January, 1921.
242
I am directed by the Secretary of State for
India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of Mr.
Wellesley's letter No. 2403/17/10 dated the 2nd
December, 1920, on the subject of opium,
2. Er Vontagu is not in a position to explain the
increase in the exports of opium from India to Hongkong
in 1919; if it is desired to pursue the matter, it is
presumed that the Colonial Office will be addressed on
the subject. I am to point out, however, that the average
annual exports of opium from India to Hongkong, on Govern-
ment account, for the six years from 1914 to 1919 was 356
chests a year, while the exports permissible under the
treaty with Portugal of the 14th June 1913 are 540 chests
for local consumption, and 120 for export. In the agree-
ment now being negotiated between the Governments of India
and Hongkong; for a period of five years from the 1st
January 1921 the requirements of Hongkong are stated to be
120 chests a year only.
The
3. As regards "private" exports from India to Hong-
kong, I am to invite attention to the provisions of the
Treaty referred to above. Under that Treaty, the Macao
farmer is permitted to purchase opium at the Calcutta
auctions, and to tranship it at Hongkong free of duty.
Opium so exported is classed as a"private"export.
limits fixed in the case of Macao are 260 chests a year
for local consumption and 240 for export, subject however
to the right to have this latter limit increased, in cer-
tain prescribed circumstances. It will be observed that
the re-exports of opium to Kacao from Hongkong have Under Secretary of State,
BOREIGN OFFICE.
avaraged/