CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 537

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(F.)-Deposit.

The merchant in charge of the collection is to pay a deposit of 10 per cent, of the estimated collection for one quarter, ie, 10 per cent. of 1,500,000 dollars, or 150,000 dollars. This sum will be refunded on the expiry of the prescribed terms (30 months) for the suppression of opium.

(G.)-Extension of Scheme.

When the scheme has been successfully started in Kuangtung, the Throne will be asked to extend it to other provinces.

The collection in Kiangsu would be about the same as in Kuangtung. In Fukien and Chekiang the collection would be about 60 per cent,, and in Anhui, Kiangsi, Hunan, Hupeh, about 30 per cent.

The collection all over the Empire would therefore be at least 20,000,000 dollars,

(Translation.)

Enclosure 5 in No. 1.

Additional Opium Licence Regulation.

Rule No. 15.

In the first year of Hsian Tung the consumption of foreign raw opium was less by 1,430 piculs than in the 34th year of Kuang Hsi. Farther the Imperial Maritime Customs statistics show that in the first quarter of this year the import again fell off by 420 piculs from the corresponding period in the first year of Hsuan T’u consumption of native raw opium similarly undergoes a steady decrease.

ung. The

On the 1st day of the 5th moon the present prepared opium tax will be provisionally enforced, and will be continued as an experiment till the end of the 6th moon.

For these two months it is not feasible to determine beforehand the amount of prepared opium consumed or the amount to be realised by the tax. It is proposed, therefore, to take periods of three months starting from the 1st day of the 7th moon. Thereafter the amount of prepared opium then found to be consumed will be reduced by one-tenth every period. The amount realised by the tax, however, will be increased per period as circumstances may render expedient.

Consequently after 30 months the consumption of raw and prepared opium throughout the province will be suppressed.

0

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

OPIUM.

CONFIDENTIAL.

[28139]

No. 1.

533

25501

[August1 AUG 10,

SECTION 1.

Sir,

India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received August 3.)

India Office, August 2, 1910. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th July, 1910, transmitting a copy of a letter from the China Association on the subject of the participation of this country in the suggested Opium Conference at The Hague, and to say that Viscount Morley concurs in the termus of Sir Edward Grey's proposed reply to the association.

I am, &c.

R. RITCHIE,

[2860 c-

-1]