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Majesty's
Government do not allow any such exports to be
made from this country to any of those places.
Governor is also aware that in numerous cases the opium
has been shipped from the Persian Gulf to false destinations, such as Hong Kong, and disappears mysteriouely on arrival in
Mr. Bridgeman is in complete agreement Far Eastern Watera.
with the Governor that isolated action against this firm by the authorities at Hong Kong will not, by itself, put an end to the illegitimate traffic in opium between Persia and
but the Far East, and that other measures will be necessary,
to him to be a fact which absolves the that does not appear British Government from doing all in its power to put a stop
to the transactions of this firm being carried on from British
Mr. Bridgeman is territory and under the British flag. afraid that the attitude which the Governor takes up in the despatch under consideration indicates that little or no effective action is likely to be taken by him under the new powers of control over dealings in opium whether within or without the Colony, and of search and inspection of corres- pondence, which he presumes are by this time in force in Hong Kong, unless further pressure is brought to bear by His Majesty's Government.
It will be apparent to the Duke of Devonshire from the recent reporte received from the Netherlands Consul- General at Hong Kong with regard to transhipment of opium at Sabung and from our Consuls in Persia ae to Nema zee's recent visit to that country, that the nature of Nemazee's business is becoming widely known, and Mr. Bridgenan thinks that it will be very difficult indeed, if His Majesty's Government allow this firm to pursue their business un- checked and unsupervised, to take any effective action,
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