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The Memorandum, they explained, was intended to serve as &
basis of discussion and they expressed the hope that, in
communicating its substance to you by telegraph, I would
recommend their proposals to your favourable consideration
as having been conceived with no ulterior cbject but solely
designed for the purpose of eradicating a widespread evil.
Their Excellencies then went through the clauses of
the Memorandum, one by one, but added little by way of com-
ment or amplification to what is contained in the text of
the document.
They expressed complete confidence in their ability
to reduce the cultivation of native oplum and counted upon
the support of public sentiment in dealing with their own
people, but they considered it to be absolutely essential
for the success of their scheme that the texation of for-
eign opium should be greatly increased. The foreign drug
is, they asserted, less heavily taxed, valus for value,
than British piece goods and in asking that the impost
should be doubled they expressly disclaimed any intention
of securing additional revenue.
In regard to the proposal which relates to Hongkong,
His Excellency T'ong Shoa-Yi stated that the original ob-
ject
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