4.9
023/6/27
21
description falls short of the truth toğay. In 1924
the Hong Kong Committee, appointed to consider this
Colony's position with regard to the obligations
incurred under the International Opium Convention
(1912), admitted a total opium consumption of 700,000
taels per annum for a population estimated to be
650,00 souls. Today the population of Hong Kong
cannot be less than 900,000 souls and the licit
opium sales (I take the 1926 figures) fall short of
200,000 taels.
+ 22.
In your telegram of the 15th October, 1927,
you say that "the opium problem cannot be treated
as a domestic concern of the Government of Hong
Kong only" I entirely agree and in my recent
action I was not actuated solely, or even mainly,
by domestic considerations. I freely admit that
domestic considerations were present to my mind and
are sufficiently serious. The Colon, 's gaols
were filled with artificial criminals, who had
committed no crime other than what is regarded by
Chinese public opinion as a most venial offence.
The native police and preventive staff were open
to the most serious temptations. Smuggling as
rife and it was impossible for this Government
to hope to combat smuggling, when its price for
opium was £14.50 a tael, while a respectable brand
of Chinese prepared opium could be purchased at $2
a tael and opium from Macao and Kwong-chau-wan
could be obtained for 26 a tael. In the absence
of any effective opposition, the position of the
opium smugglers grew daily stronger.
+ No.6.30286/27 ENO ?]
Their profits
returned
2.5
Page 50Page 51