CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8] — Page 184

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No. 1525/1912.

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178

Secretary's Office,

EGE 28 AUG 12/

Hongkong, 25th. July, 1912.

I am directed to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter No. 130 of the 25th. of June on the subject of the quantity of opium which the Opium Farmer in Macao is allowed

to handle and to inform you that this Government learns with satisfaction that the Government of Lacao is prepared to co- -operate with this Government in preventing illicit dealing in opium.

2.

a

The statistics supplied in your letter have

been studied with interest but I am to point out that while the

figures for 1909-10 may have been abnormal to a certain extent, the statistics for the years 1903-1909 cannot be appositely compar- -ed with present requirements because in those years many markets

especially that of America now closed to the import of opium,

were then open to it.

3.

The figures supplied by you show that in the

years 1903-1909 the average local consumption at Lacao was 2,015

balls (or 40 chests) per mensem. The Chinese population of Eacao is estimated at 71,000. That of the Colony of Hongkong (including

the New Territories) is 440,000. The legitimate local consumption

in this Colony does not exceed 45 chests per mensem. I am, there-

-fore, to suggest that the legitimate consumption of Lacao must be

far less than 40 chests per mensen.

4.

Regarding the export of prepared opium, I an

to remind you that the only country to which export is legitimate,

owing to absence of prohibition of import, is Mexico. You will no

doubt agree that in view of this fact the allowance (1,275 chests

per annum) to the Opium Farmer at Macao for purposes of export is

excessive.

5.