CO129-363 - Public Offices & Others - 1909 — Page 110

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

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38162

CHINA TRADE.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[41247]

No. 1.

[October 25.J

.0

THE AR23 NOV 09 SECTION 2.

Question asked in the House of Commons, October 25, 1909.

Sir Henry Cotton,-To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the rate of import duty on opium in the Federated Malay States now stands at 1,200 dollars (or 1401) per chest, and if he can state what is the present rate of duty in the China treaty ports.

Answered by Mr. McKinnon Wood (for Sir Edward Grey).

As regards the first part of the question, I have seen the answer given by my honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on the 5th October. With regard to the second, the duty on imported opium is determined by the additional article of 1885 of the Chefoo Convention, which fixes the import duty at 30 taels per chest of one picul, to which is added a further 80 taels for li-kin, making a total of 110 taels. This works out at the present rate of exchange at, roughly, 121. 17s. a chest.

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