CO129-340 - Governor Nathan Acting Governor May - 1907 [4-6] — Page 375

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COPY.

Enclosure 3.

CA 21539

Government House,

Hongkong, 9th May, 1907.

Sir,

I have had under my consideration Your Excellency's despatch of the 17th of December last enclosing copies of despatches which you have addressed to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the Opium Decree of the 20th of September last and of the Regulations made by the Chinese Government to give effect to that Decree.

2. In reply I beg leave to point out that Tong Shao-yi is mistaken in thinking that the original object in establishing the Opium Farm in this Colony had been to regulate the supply of Opium to the Chinese population. This Colony has since the institution of the Opium Farm always done and still continues to do a considerable trade in the export of prepared Opium.

3. The Chinese Government now propose that this Government should renounce that trade as far as the export to China is concerned, and should adopt fresh measures to prevent the smuggling of prepared Opium into China. I observe, however, that the Chinese Government offers no consideration whatever in return for the concession and assistance for which she asks and in view of the fact that her proposals would involve this Government in considerable expense and entail executive action fraught with no little trouble, I am unable to recommend them to His Majesty's Government for consideration unless the Chinese Government...

To

His Britannic Majesty's Minister,

PEKING.

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COPY. Enclosure 3. CA 21539 Government House, Hongkong, 9th May, 1907. Sir, I have had under my consideration Your Excellency's despatch of the 17th of December last enclosing copies of despatches which you have addressed to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the Opium Decree of the 20th of September last and of the Regulations made by the Chinese Government to give effect to that Decree. 2. In reply I beg leave to point out that Tong Shao-yi is mistaken in thinking that the original object in establishing the Opium Farm in this Colony had been to regulate the supply of Opium to the Chinese population. This Colony has since the institution of the Opium Farm always done and still continues to do a considerable trade in the export of prepared Opium. 3. The Chinese Government now propose that this Government should renounce that trade as far as the export to China is concerned, and should adopt fresh measures to prevent the smuggling of prepared Opium into China. I observe, however, that the Chinese Government offers no consideration whatever in return for the concession and assistance for which she asks and in view of the fact that her proposals would involve this Government in considerable expense and entail executive action fraught with no little trouble, I am unable to recommend them to His Majesty's Government for consideration unless the Chinese Government... To His Britannic Majesty's Minister, PEKING.
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OPY. Enclosure 3. CA 21539 Goverment, House, JUN 07 371 Hongkong, 9th. May, 1907. Sir, : I have had under my consideration Your Excellency's despatch of the 17th. of December last enclosing copies of despatches which you have addressed to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the Opium Decree of the 20th. of September last and of the Regula- -tions made by the Chinese Government to give effect to that Decree. 2. In reply I beg leave to point out that Tong Shao-yi is mistaken in thinking that the original object in establishing the Opium Farm in this Colony had been to regum -late the supply of Opium to the Chinese population. This Colony has since the institution of the Opium Farm always done and still continues to do a considerable trade in the export of prepared Opium. 3. The Chinese Government now propose that this Government should renounce that trade as far as the export to China is concerned, and should adopt fresh measures to prevent the smuggling of prepared Opium into China. I observe, however, that the Chinese Govern- -ment offers no consideration whatever in return for the con- -cession and assistance for which she asks and in view of the fact that her proposals would involve this Government in considerable expense and entail executive action fraught with no little trouble, I am unable to recommend them to His Majesty's Government for consideration unless the Chinese Britannic Majesty's Minister, PEKING. Government }
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OPY.

Enclosure 3.

CA 21539

Goverment, House,

JUN 07

371

Hongkong, 9th. May, 1907.

Sir,

:

I have had under my consideration Your

Excellency's despatch of the 17th. of December last enclosing

copies of despatches which you have addressed to His Majesty's

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the

Opium Decree of the 20th. of September last and of the Regula-

-tions made by the Chinese Government to give effect to that

Decree.

2.

In reply I beg leave to point out that

Tong Shao-yi is mistaken in thinking that the original object

in establishing the Opium Farm in this Colony had been to regum

-late the supply of Opium to the Chinese population. This Colony

has since the institution of the Opium Farm always done and

still continues to do a considerable trade in the export of

prepared Opium.

3.

The Chinese Government now propose that

this Government should renounce that trade as far as the export

to China is concerned, and should adopt fresh measures to

prevent the smuggling of prepared Opium into China.

I observe, however, that the Chinese Govern-

-ment offers no consideration whatever in return for the con-

-cession and assistance for which she asks and in view of the

fact that her proposals would involve this Government in

considerable expense and entail executive action fraught with

no little trouble, I am unable to recommend them to His

Majesty's Government for consideration unless the Chinese

Britannic Majesty's Minister,

PEKING.

Government

}

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