This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
32363
# CHINA TRADE
## CONFIDENTIAL
[28824]
No. 1.
4 SE 08
[August 19.]
## SECTION 2
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.--(Received August 19.)
Downing Street, August 18, 1908.
Sir,
WITH reference to your letter of the 9th May, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir E. Grey, the inclosed copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong submitting an Ordinance passed by the Legislature of the Colony to prohibit the exportation of prepared opium to China and to French Indo-China.
2. Sir F. D. Lugard has been informed that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to this Ordinance.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
H. BERTRAM COX.
My Lord,
### Inclosure 1 in No. 1
Governor Sir F. Lugard to the Earl of Crewe,
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, the following Ordinance, entitled:
Government House, Hong Kong, July 10, 1908.
"An Ordinance to Prohibit the Exportation of Prepared Opium to China and to French Indo-China,"
2. The customary Report by the Attorney-General is annexed.
3. The origin of this legislation is to be found in paragraph 4 of the Memorandum handed to Sir John Jordan by the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu on the 29th November, 1906, where the proposal to prohibit the importation of prepared opium from Hong Kong into China was made for the first time; and the negotiations on the subject between this Government and the Government of China, which were initiated in accordance with the instructions contained in Lord Elgin's telegram of the 4th September, 1907, are described in the despatches noted in the annexed list. You will observe that the aim of this Government has been to secure that, in the event of Your Lordship's legislation being passed in Hong Kong to prohibit the export of prepared opium from the Colony to China, an Imperial Decree should be issued by the Emperor of China prohibiting the export of prepared opium from China to Hong Kong.
4. In his despatch of the 16th ultimo Sir John Jordan informed me that an Imperial Decree to the desired effect had been issued, and I accordingly proceeded with the Bill which had been introduced into the Legislative Council on the 14th May last in anticipation of the issue of the Decree.
5. Meanwhile, on the 23rd April last, the Consul for France at Hong Kong addressed a letter to the Colonial Secretary proposing, at the instance of the Government of French Indo-China, that the export of prepared opium from Hong Kong to Indo-China and from Indo-China to Hong Kong should be similarly prohibited. I enclose copies of the correspondence on this subject resulting in the adoption of the proposal.
6. The measure was passed by the Legislative Council without debate.
[1904 t-2]
I have, &c.
(Signed)
F. D. LUGARD.
468
}
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
32363
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[28824]
No. 1.
4 SE 08
[August 19.]
SECTION 2.
Colonial Office to Foreign Office.--(Received August 19.)
Downing Street, August 18, 1908.
Sir,
WITH reference to your letter of the 9th May, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Sir E. Grey, the inclosed copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong submitting an Ordinance passed by the Legislature of the Colony to prohibit the exportation of prepared opium to China and to French Indo-China.
2. Sir F. D. Lugard has been informed that His Majesty will not be advised to exercise his power of disallowance with respect to this Ordinance.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
H. BERTRAM COX.
My Lord,
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Governor Sir F. Lugard to the Earl of Crewe,
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, the following Ordinance, entitled:
Government House, Hong Kong, July 10, 1908.
"An Ordinance to Prohibit the Exportation of Prepared Opium to China and to French Indo-China,"
2. The customary Report by the Attorney-General is annexed.
3. The origin of this legislation is to be found in paragraph 4 of the Memorandum handed to Sir John Jordan by the Ministers of the Wai-wu Pu on the 29th November, 1906, where the proposal to prohibit the importation of prepared opium from Hong Kong into China was made for the first time; and the negotiations on the subject between this Government and the Government of China, which were initiated in accordance with the instructions contained in Lord Elgin's telegram of the 4th Sep- tember, 1907, are described in the despatches noted in the annexed list. will observe that the aim of this Government has been to secure that, in the event of Your Lordship legislation being passed in Hong Kong to prohibit the export of prepared opium from the Colony to China, an Imperial Decree should be issued by the Emperor of China probibiting the export of prepared opium from China to Hong Kong.
4. In his despatch of the 16th ultimo Sir John Jordan informed me that an Imperial Decree to the desired effect had been issued, and I accordingly proceeded with the Bill which had been introduced into the Legislative Council on the 14th May last in anticipation of the issue of the Decree.
5. Meanwhile, on the 23rd April last, the Consul for France at Hong Kong ddressed a letter to the Colonial Secretary proposing, at the instance of the Govern- ent of French Indo-China, that the export of prepared opium from Hong Kong to Indo-China and from Indo-China to Hong Kong should be similarly prohibited. I close copies of the correspondence on this subject resulting in the adoption of the proposal.
6. The measure was passed by the Legislative Council without debate.
[1904 t-2]
I have, &c.
(Signed)
F. D. LUGARD.
468
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