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made good to Hong Kong by the Government of India supplying me wi
an additional equal quantity. It seems that this request was
completely misrepresented in the note of the 15th of August from
the Portuguese Minister. The Governor has now pointed out
this mistake by cable to Lisbon.
There is no doubt whatever in my mind as to the Governor's
honesty of purpose. I leam from him that there will not be one
chest of Indian opium in Macao on the 29th of August. Unless
further assistance to Macao in this matter is authorised the
probability is that the finances and administration of Macao will
be dislocated. If this should occur there will almost certainly
be an increase in 'the smuggling of opium which would be bound
to have detrimental repercussions in Hong Kong.I accordingly
put forward the suggestion that strong representations should
be made to the Government of India that Macao should be allowed
to receive a supply of opium through this Colony. I should be
glad to have an urgent reply to this telegram. The adoption of
conducive my suggestion would be me to the attainment of the aims
of the League of Nations by facilitating the common policy for
the efficient control of opium in the two Colonies.