+
t
328
copy.
BRITISH EMBASSY,
{# 2729/15/10)
TOKYO,
No.327.
June 23rd, 1981.
My Lord,
On receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No.229
(▼ 1043/15/10) of April 15 last, an enquiry was addressed to Kr. Tanaka, the Commercial Director of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in regard to the question of the importation of opium into Pomosa from Hongkong.
2. Mr. Tanaka explained that he understood that the Turkish and Persian Opium purchased for use in the island was regalarly transshipped at hongkong, and also at Singapore, owing to the fact that vessels do not come direct to Japan or
Formosa from Turkish and Persian porta, mnd he confirmed the statement contained in Count. Ushida's note of August 28, 1920, (see my despatch No. 399 of September 3rd) that raw opium is
required for the manufacture of paste for the use of confirmed
smokers under special permit.
3. Your Lordship is aware from previous despatches from this Embassy that considerable quantities of turkish and Persian Oplum have been imported into Formosa in the past. As reported by His Majesty'a Consul at Tamui in the despatch enclosed in my despatch No. 824 of May 7, the total quantity imported in 1920 amounted to 254,101 kin, or about 338,413 lbs., whereas only 10,000 kin of Indian opium were imported in that year. of this amount nearly one third would appear to have come via Hongkong,
as I understand that a chest of Persian Opium contains as a rule
160 bricks of 1 lb. nett each, and on the assumption that a Turkish chest contains a similar amount, the 619) chests imported
tarquese Curson of Kedleston, K.Ú..
ste.
eto.
sto.
from/