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forcibly towed my ship to Hongkong soldiers were sent to unload
the above-mentioned Anti-Opium Modicine Materials and it was
checked and stored at the Customs office. The transit passes
and despatches were also retained. I went to the Hongkong Police
station to enquire the reason for this and subsequently the
'.
olice sent a European Inspector with an Interpreter to return
the ship and arms to me. I then went to the Customs office and
suggested that the Anti-Opium Medicine Materials, transit passes
and despatches should be returned but the office refused and
merely gave me a signed receipt.
I have the honour to report the above circumstances".
This consignment of Anti-Opium Medicine Materials was
for use with other medicinal substances in the preparation of medicine for opium adicts who arter taking it are gradually
cured of the opium habit. On this occasion it was being taken
Ch'ao dei for the Opium Suppression Bureau there to make medi-
cine with. The Bureau had issued passes and had written to
the various authorities in proof of this and there was no
intention of crossing the Hongkong boundary. On the voyage
owing to the fog and the taking of the wrong course the sip
stranded at Po Liao Wan not far from the Sino-British boundary.
Three days elapsed from the time of the accident until she was
refloated and during these the Deputy went to Hongkong to hire
vessels for salvage. Two vessels were procured and the launch
Fu Ho as the workmen can testify. The No. 6 Hongkong Government
naval launch came and investigated the circumstances so it is
obvious that the above-mentioned Anti-Opium medicine materiala
was in fact authorised by the Bureau for shipment to the
Ch'ao Mei Opium Suppression Bureau to make medicine with. The
Canton Government and Hongkong Government are on friendly terms.
The present detention of medicinal materials by the Hongkong
Customs must be due to a misunderstanding. The above cir-
cumstances are reported to the Municipal Government with the
request