298
stricter control by the preventive measures taken by the
Hong Kong Government.
the
On the same day a telegram was sent to Hong Kong
informing the Officer Administering the Government that
question had been raised in the Assembly of the
the incr9R50 League of Nations, and he was asked whether
arranged with India was essential, or whether it would be
by any means possible for the Colony to carry on with
10 chests a month until after the meeting of the
Advisory Committee next Spring.
The matter had been raised in the 5th Committee
The
of the Assembly of the League of Nations by Sir A. Steel-Maitland who had brought forward a resolution inviting Goverments not to innrease the quantity of opium imported until they had ascertained and reported to the League the estimated amounts Dekktcy of their legitimate consumption. He added that this resolution had particular reference to Hong Kong.
The British delegates at Geneva felt themselves
unable to accept in its entirety the suggestion contained in the Colonial Office telegram of the 9th of September
to Lord Balfour; but on their giving an undertaking that,
if the Advisory Committee should so recommend it next Spring, the supply of Opium placed on sale in Hong Kong would be so limited that the average consumption from that date until the end of 1923 would not exceed the
years on the closest average consumption of the last few
Bir A.Steel-Maitland with- estimate which could be made;
drew his resolution.
Subsequently
Sir M. Delevingne/confirmed that in the under- taking given by the British delegates it was definitely
intended
!