CO129-347 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [4-6] — Page 323

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NFIDENTIAL.

Hongkong.

320

21530

UN 08

Government House,

Hongkong, 16th. May,

1908.

My Lord,

Stay C

15294

etary of State to Governor)

of 5th. May, 1908.

rnor to Secretary of State)

of 6th. May, 1908.

etary of State to Governor

of 11th. May, 1908.

You

Rug

With reference to the telegraphic

correspondence noted in the margin, I

have the honour to inform Your Lord-

-ship that the closing of the Opium

Divans in this Colony is likely, as

far as can be seen at present, to involve this Government

in claims for heavy compensation not only by the Opium

Farmer as already intimated, but by the Licensees of Opium

Divans and possibly by the landlords of the premises

leased to the latter.

2.

These questions are being made

the subject of a close and searching enquiry which from

the nature and the extent of the interests involved can-

-not be concluded for some little time.

3.

I am making every effort to as-

-certain the facts bearing on these questions without

AIGHT HONOURABLE

delay

THE EARL OF CREWE,

80...