CO129-377 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [5] — Page 41

COPY.

Confidential.

Sir,

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18650

REC

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British Cons@lZtdUN ||

Tamsui, 26th. January, 1911. 39

In reply to your despatch of the 9th. instant, I have the honour to inform you that, so far as I can ascertain, Turkish and Persian Opium are used solely in substitution for Indian Opium to be made up for smoking purposes. I am informed that the Monopoly Bureau combines opium of various degrees of strength in order to maintain a certain standard in the Opium which it issues for smoking, and this is given as the reason why various kinds are used in varying proportions, according to the atrength of each kind, which is said to vary.

I am informed that very small quantities of Morphine and other drugs are obtained at the Monopoly Bureau in testing the opium prior to its treatment in the preparation of smoking opium; but that no Morphine is manufactured here for the market.

I append below the quantities of opium imported

during the year 1910.

Indian......lbs.

106,987

Persian..

Turkish.

135,939

129,488

372,414.

The Colonial Secretary,

Hongkong.

I have etc.,

(Sd.) John B. Rentiers,

H. B. M's. Consul, Tamsui.