CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 528

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morphia, or any British subject manufacturing in China cocaine or instruments for the injection of cocaine, shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 50%, or to imprisonment to any term not exceeding three months, or to both such punishments, and the cocaine and the instruments for the injection of cocaine may be declared to be forfeited.

The Cocaine Prohibition Regulations."

2. These regulations may be cited as

Peking,

1910.

>

524

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

0

25501

RECR Rec219 AUG 10

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[July 23.]

SECTION 1.

His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires.

[26649]

No. 1.

Sir,

Colonial Office to Foreign Office.--(Received July 23.)

Downing Street, July 22, 1910. WITH reference to your letter of the 29th June, I am directed by the Earl of Crewe to transmit to you, to be laid before Secretary Sir E. Grey, the enclosed copy of a telegram from the officer administering the Government of Hong Kong, in which he urges that immediate action should be taken to secure the removal of the tax imposed on foreign raw opium by the provincial authorities of Canton.

2. Lord Crewe will be glad to learn how this matter stands at present.

I am, &c.

II. BERTRAM COX.

Enclosure in No. 1.

The Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong to the Earl of Crowe.

(Telegraphic.)

[Received Colonial Office, July 19, 1910.] MY despatch of 21st June. Situation unchanged. Opium trade completely demoralised. Chinese authorities ignore protests made by consul-general and by British chargé d'affaires. Merchants at Hong Kong urge strongly that, as they purchase from Government of India on faith of treaties, they are in the fullest degree entitled to protection of existing treaties. Delay in arriving at a final settlement of the question making bad impression locally. Again urge immediate action should be taken to abolish tax and present regulations.

[2812 g- -1]