CO129-390 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [5-6] — Page 316

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COPY.

Enclosure 2.

(No. 5.)

No. 1525/1912.

noids [amoy

sir,

Colonial Secretary's Office

Hongkong, 5th. June, 1912.

305

svad I „MIRNëseI .oft roddal twog od vİqor mi

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beoulet ere adi II sasi.dnstre [ut adi of benilitu revən had

-no, ent .plavisouqeen „BI bas .001 yd vliegas un pievisaenore

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•No suоH

With reference to your letter No. 99 of the

17th. May, for which I have to express my thanks, I am directed to state that the opium merchants in Hongkong have represented to this Government that a very serious situation confronts the legitimate opium trade from the fact that large quantities of uncertified opium are alleged to be smuggled from Macao to the neighbouring districts of China.

2.

As you are aware the legitimate export of prepared opium to Manila and America ceased in 1909. Since then the figures for opium imported into Macao and not exported into

China are as follows:-

1909....

1910....

.181 chests.

......150

1911 1st. 6 months.

1911 2nd. 6 months.

.192 chests.

.651

The first three of these items represent the quantity actually boiled in Macao for local consumption and for export. But in July, 1911, uncertified Indian opium first came on the market at a much cheaper price than certified opium and at the same moment it appears that the requirements of the Macao Opium Farmer went up. Between the lst. July, 1911, and the 30th. April, 1912, Macao imported 1,260 chests of uncertified opium and it seems evident from the figures for the previous years that this quantity cannot have any legitimate outlet.

3.

The Hongkong Opium Farmer is allowed to boil 900 chests per annum, but it appears from the documents which you have been good enough to supply that for the year 1st. July, 1911, to 30th. June, 1912, the total allowance of the Macao farmer is 1,525 chests, viz.:- 450 chests for local consumption and 1,275