N
Enclosure
to quemoo Confidential of 1 April 18 13.
Paraphrase cypher telegram from London 29/3/13,
Governor
Hongkong
254 113.
C.O
13176
Jan 21 APP 13
Begins: your cypher telegram of 7th.Maroh,
the figure of 260 chesta was agreed upon at a
conference at which Mr.Severn was present. The
Portuguese representative only accepted this figure
after lengthy discussion. 180 chests would not be
accepted by Portuguese Government who would break
off negociations if it was attempted to reduce
allowance to this figure: this would result in
a return to the present unsatisfactory position.
The efforts of Maoso to prevent smuggling will be
assisted by the Government of India who will limit
the export of opium to the amount agreed upon by
the conference. If the 260 chests prove to be
excessive the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs is trying to get Portuguese to agree to
arrange in future years for a proportionate
reduction. Thus it appears to me to be best to
accept, under the agreed conditions, the proposal
of free transhipment of opium consigned to Macao
through Hongkong from India. This question is
the only one as yet not agreed upon and it is
very necessary to come to an agreement on this
point. I therefore desire you to introduce in
due course a resolution permitting the import into Hongkong of uncertificated opium consigned to
Macao. The new lease of Macso opium farm begins
in July and the resolution should then come into
force. The resolution may embody the conditions agreed upon by the conference if you wish: signed
copies are being forwarded to you by post.
Harcourt.
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