30049/27 Hong Kong.
PARAPHRASE TELEGRAL
From the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the
Governor of Hong Kong.
(Sent 8 p.m., 19th August, 1927)
575
75
Mr.Paskin 19/8
Mr. Ellis 19/8 fs.
F.0. & Sir M.Delevingne concur. They would like tel. to go off today.
(Intd.) J.P. 19/8
Copies of
para. to go to F.l
170. lff.
iff
A.0.
Your wish to assist Macao having regard to the
honest endeavours of the present Governor has the full
sympathy of His Majesty's Government. It is however necessary
to observe that your despatch of the 22nd of July referred to
in your telegram of the 15th of August has not yet been
received. His Majesty's Government have accordingly not yet. been furnished with a satisfactory explanation as to why the Macao Government finds itself in the position described in
their representations to you. Inter alia it is not clear why that Government has not found it possible to arrange supplies
of Persian opium as has been done by the Governments of other
Far Eastern Territories; nor do we understand why Macao cannot
now arrange such supplies. It is not understood what has
prevented them from making such arrangements in the period amounting to nearly three months which has elapsed since you were first approached by the Macao Government. Please cable a full report of the position at once. You should not let them have any more opium until you hear further from me.
In addition to the above considerations I have to
point out the following difficulties.
The request from the Portuguese Minister to which reference is made in your telegram reached the Foreign
Office in a note bearing the date the 15th of August. It was stated that Hong Kong is receiving 10 chests of Indian
2/8/7 opium a month surplus to its own requirements, and it was
22
request ed