CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6] — Page 299

¦ with presumably suffer if sales an stopped.

So far as we are concerned, uncertified opsins

is puist as, if not more, important.

n

conum

- Copy to 1.0.7.0 1.7.

holing

14ch

copy

If the Sale

sent to other.

R".

of certified oprium is

stopped. I stid suppose that

the

sunggling of uncertificated pium

from macas wo be rather inimesed

thair not

how

iter's

I don't clearly understand purposed action wo

anybody except the Sassoms.

Whitt smuggling gos mouilly

the

I ain't see how the

REJII.

jurscent stock will bens für much

unters India Discontinues vals of opium

attojothes.

9. As found

Ar

12 Alonce

Mr.

homefil

ASE

GRAM

& probably

=

"unters.

"

تو

283

C. O.

18708

607

\35 11 JUN 12

The Officer Administering the Government of

Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(Received, Colonial Office, 9.40 a.m., 11th June 1912)

A serious financial situation possibly may

ariss through the heavy fall in the price of certified

opium of Rs.1700 per chest at the June sales: this is

attributed to illegal restrictions in certain provinces on opium trade and to the smuggling of uncertified

opium from Macao and Kuang-chow-wan into China.

Slight fall only in the price of uncertified opium

bears out latter contention. The Hong Kong Shanghai 1

Bank, Chartered Bank of India Australia and China and the Chamber of Commerce su port Sassoon's request

that the Government of India should discontinue forth-

roup indecipherable with the sale of certified opium Pir-so far to)

agreement with China can he made effective.

On May prices the present stock of Indian

opium bought for China is valued at 12 million pounds. Despatch followe

SEVERN.

C. D.

R.IS

D.