2
5. The local consumption of opium in Hong Kong has been carefully enquired into, and is estimated at 540 chests per annum. The Chinese population of Macao is esti- nated at 71,000; that of Hong Kong at 440,000. Excluding the rural population (100,000) of the new territories, the people in the two places are very similar, and it would, therefore, seem reasonable that the legitimate local consumption of Macao should not be more than 20 per cent. of that of Hong Kong. At any rate it is submitted that it cannot legitimately exceed 25 per cent. of the consumption of Hong Kong, or 135 chests per annum. This latter contention is supported by the fact that the Hong Kong opium farmer was a tenderer for the Macao farm in 1910, and hopes to tender again in 1913. He estimates that in 1910 the local consumption of Macao was something less than 300 taels per diem; that it has now increased considerably, owing to events in China and to the restriction of opium-smoking there, and may now be slightly over 400 taels per diem; 400 taels per diem is equivalent to 133 chests per annum. For the above reasons the superintendent of imports and exports considers, and I agree with him, that 150 chests per annum is a liberal estimate of the legitimate local consumption of Macao.
6. During the twelve months ending on the 30th June last the Macao opium farmer boiled more than 450 chests for local consumption. It is impossible to escape the conviction that this excessive quantity is due to the difference of price between certificated and uncertificated opium, which bas rendered smuggling into China profitable.
3
have, to obtain permits to import from the Mexican Government on each separate occasion on which importation was desired to be made. Copies of these permits could then be sent to this Government 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 Macao show that 378,000 taels (about 340 chests) of prepared opium were exported to Mexico during the twelve months ending on the 30th June, 1912. It would be interesting to know whether this amount was actually imported into Mexico during that period.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
F. H. MAY.
STATEMENT respecting Prepared Opium exported to different Ports from March 1, 1910, to August 31, 1912.
Year. Mexico.
Salina Cruz.
Mar-
Noumea. Panamá.
seilles.
Sydney.
San Benito.
¡Ancon.
Ilam-
burg.
London.
A pi. Samoa.
Tacis. Taeis.
1910
1911.
1912..
5,000
2,400
Taels. Taels.
Taels. Taels. Taels. Taels. Taels. Tacls.Taeis. 22,900 11,500 9,600 42,400 500
1,000 1,200 42,000 24,000 1,200 2,000
1,000 1,000
12,500 2,500
1,200
In
67,400 40,500
7,200
44,400
1,200 1,500
1,000
1,200 12,500
1,000
600
600
7. During the first six months of 1911 the Macao opium farmer boiled 114 chests for export to Mexico; in the next twelve months be boiled 344 chests for the same purpose. In 1910 the amount of prepared opium exported to Mexico from Hong Kong did not exceed 40,000 taels, or the equivalent of a little over thirty-six chests, and Macao exported very little prepared opium in that year as already explained. inference therefore is that the large export to Mexico is not for legitimate purposes.
The the absence, however, of information as to what the requirements in Mexico really are it is impossible to make a trustworthy estimate of what the export of prepared opium to that country should be. I have recently addressed an enquiry, of which I enclose a copy, to His Britannic Majesty's Minister there on this subject.
I suggested in a cypher telegram of the 15th instant that the Foreign Office should make similar enquiry. The following is a paraphrase of my message:—
"With reference to your telegram of the 26th September the statement of Macao's local consumption leaves here 16th instant via Siberia. It is impossible to estimate the legitimate export to Mexico without knowing the legitimate requirements of that country. I suggest that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should prosecute enquiries on this subject."
8. I attach a statement showing the officially recorded imports of uncertificated opium into Macao from the 1st July, 1911, to the 30th June, 1912, and from the 1st July, 1912, to the 30th September, 1912; and also the amount of opium used by the Macao opium farmer from the 1st July, 1911, to the 30th June, 1912. These figures, which are all authentic, show that on the 1st July, 1912, the Macao opium farmer had a balance of 559 chests in hand.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Governor Sir F. May to Mr. Stronge,
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Statements respecting Opium Imports, de.
1. UNCERTIFICATED Indian Opium imported into Macao, July 1, 1911, to June 30, 1912.
From
Year and Month.
From Singapore. Calcutta.
From Hong Kong,
Total.
Chests.
Chests.
Chests.
Chests.
July
1911
25
25
August September, October
100
100
14
99
99
15
15
I have, &c.
F. H. MAY.
November December January February March
160
65
225
5
150
10
160
1912
150
10
160
175
20
195
51
April
200
200
May June
200
200
635
400
329
1,864
Sir,
Hong Kong, October 3, 1912.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have had under consideration the desirability of regulating more 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 legitimate local wants in Mexico, and whether an arrangement could be made by which persons wishing to import prepared opium would
2. UNCERTIFICATED Indian Opium imported into Macao since June 30, 1912.
July
1912
August September
+
[2715 y-2]
Total
::::
::::
:::
:
From Calcutta.
Chests.
230
300
530
B 2
420
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