CO129-392 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [9-10] — Page 300

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COPY.

No. 4284/1912.

sir.

Enclosure 1.

C.0.

35553288

Government: House,

Hongkong, 3rd Potoby 1912.

I have the honour to inform you that I have

had under consideration the desirability of regulating core closely than hitherto the export of prepared opium to Mexico from this Colony.

2.

Under the present arrangements the export of

prepared opium to Mexico, and other countries which allow the import of the drug, is made under a permit from the Superintendent of Imports and Exports. I enclose a table showing the exports since 1910.

3.

I should be much obliged if you would inform me what amount of imported prepared opium is required for legiti- -mate local wants in Lexico, and whether an arrangement could be made by which persons wishing to import prepared opium would have to obtain permits to import from the Mexican Government, on each

separate occasion on which importation was desired

obe made. Copies of these permits could then be sent to this Governcent for

guidance in dealing with applications for permits to export. If,

however, this proposal is not feasible, I should be glad if you

would suggest some other arrangement whereby the traffic may be

kept within legitimate bounds.

4.

The returns of the small Portuguese Colony of

kacao show that 378,000 taels (about 340 chests) of prepared

opium were exported to Lexico during the 12 months ending on June

30th., 1912. It would be interesting to know whether this amount was actually imported into Mexico during that period.

Francis W. Stronge, Esq.,

H. B. M. Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary,

Mexico City,

Mexico.

I have etc., (Sd.) F. H. May,

Governor,&c..

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