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84
TELEGRAM from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong
to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 15th March.
(Received, Colonial Office, 9.0 a.m., 15th March, 1930).
Your telegrem 13th March. Opium. 83 cases containing 166 tins each
tin containing 400 taels of raw Yunnan cake opium seized on armed launch which had gone ashore at British island south of Hong Kong. Launch was flying Chinese flag and was under control of Kwang Tung Opium Suppression Bureau. Launch captain produced papers Opium Suppression Bureau Canton which authorize Tung Wan Company for
monopoly of transportation and sale of anti-opium drugs in the whole of Kwang Tung and to transfer anti-opium drugs to Swatow. The Consul General at Canton has now forwarded formal claim from the Mayor of Canton on behalf of the Opium Suppression Bureau requesting the return of the 83 cases which are described as containing "anti-opium medi cine material". The launch is stated to have been taking the wrong course oving to fog. Mayor states (Begins) This consignment of anti-opium
medicine material was for the use with other medicinal substances in
preparation of medicine for opium addicts who after taking it are
gradually cured of the opium habit. On this occasion it was being
taken to Chao Mei for the Opium Suppression Bureau there to make
medinine with. The Bureau had issued pass and had written to various
authorities in proof of this and there was no intention of crossing
Hong Kong boundary (Ends.) He states further (Begins). The present
detention of medicinal material by Hong Kong Customs must be due
to misunderstanding (Ends).
Although "medi cinal material" turns out to be opium I consider in the circumstances in which opium came to be found in British terri- tory it would be politic to return the opium. I request authority to return the opium accordingly to the Canton Authorities.
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