CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 80

Confidential.

for 75096

attached sat end.

Enclosure

2.

REC REP 28 UCT 00

79

Precis.

The plan for handing over the Opium Farm to the Chinese Government having been found impracticable (Secretary of State informed, para 9 of Conf Desp. 7/8/99.) & a

temporary agreement having been made with the Opium

Farmer, the Bill of 8/6/99,representing what the Hongkong Government was prepared to do, was drawn up.

This Bill suggested the following changes in the

existing law, in order to carry out the pledges given to the

Chinese Government.

(1)With the exception of samples to the

extent of two taels, no person was to be allowed to have

loose opium in his possession, except that the opium Farmer might have loose opium in an opium boiling establishment,

to be approved by the Governor in Council. (Previously the

Opium Farmer & licensed retail dealers had been allowed

such loose opium: and others were allowed it, if they

held a certificate of purchase from a licensee, or an

official Export permit.)

(2) All opium landed in the Colony to be

stored in a licensed warehouse, under the control of the

Superintendant of Imports & Exports. (Previously importers

had been allowed to obtain an import permit & take the

opium where they liked, the place to which it was taken,

however, being mentioned in the permit.)

(3) Whilst the old system of export permits

was to be retained, a duty of $110 per chest was to be

charged for the Chinese Government; & the master of any

vessel