CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 107

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14.

In accordance with the advice of

the Executive Council the list of 52 Divans was handed to

the Opium Farmer, and on the 3rd. ultimo Mr. Ch'an K'ai-

-meng met Mr. Clementi and submitted the following pro-

:

-posals:-

(a).

In the event of the abolition

of all Divans Mr. Ch'an stated that the Opium Farmer would

olaim a reduction of $50,000 per mensem in his rental and

after much argument added as an unauthorized expression of

his personal opinion that under no circumstances could an

offer of less than $45,000 per mensem (viz.:- $540,000 per

annum) be entertained.

(b).

In the event of the 52 Divans on

the list handed to the Opium Farmer being abolished, Mr.

Ch'an stated that the Farm would claim a reduction of

$7,500 per mensem ($90,000 per annum) in the rental: but

he submitted an alternative list of 52 Divans,

selected

by the Opium Farmer, and stated that, if these Divans were

alosed, the Farm would claim a reduction of $7,000 per

mensem ($84,000 per annum) in the rental. The Divans in the

former list have been marked 'A' and those in the latter

list 'B', in the margin of Mr. Hutchison's report.

15.

I enclose a copy of a minute by

Mr.