CO129-367 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [6-7] — Page 183

ST

moh. No,

Cory.

J. W. Jamieson, Baq.,

H. B. M. Consul 'General,

Sir,

CANTO N.

17th May, 1910.

181

With reference to our previous correspondenos with regard to the imposition of fresh taxation on raw opium at Canton, we have now the honour to enclose for your information translation of a letter From this you will observe addressed to us by the opium dealers.

that they attribute the heavy falling off in the deliveries to the

· Impending taxation and they are in consequence unable to clear their

During the purchases, although the time of delivery is long overdue.“

last fortnight shipments to Canton and the neighbourhood have fallen off from an average of 40 chests a day to under 10 obeste, a very

serious state of affairs.

It is true that the levying of the new taxes has not yet been enforced and is being put off from day to day, yet owing to the un- certainty dealers in the country are refraining from buying, and as a donsequence, the trade is entirely demoralised,

We have, &0..

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(HongKong British Merchants.)