CO129-401 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [5-6] — Page 278

toured

Junior

should be chorker. The 480 affears to be satisfied that Me Ilithich is as No Stuteturson whose experemielt

and as

the mounholy busmiss is confment to safer. The Mourpoly suomes in infundence by the collection of the liquor duties, and a rexit to Singapore to see the working

the for manopoly deft hand.

Coboren is affainted should be set free think or four months to study the working not and of the Impefore system, auf ais the system pursued by the farmer in St. Kang, and that could no doubt be done. for ku Hatcher.

for

I would not surrule the Gov. bet and till live that it is a case for the afpitect of the best may available impliction of Sainsorit - that no it's experianel of working one part

the dept, and this knowledge he has acquired of the Singapore explane would affear to pamb to her as the most suitadt person for the post : of huower the Gov. is satafted that he ditcher is the movesuctudy it would be desirable that he should be sat fee for same monthes to study on the spot the Singaport systems and also the systeme of the H. hang d'armure and to make all the arrangrue inti for taking over the becomes from the Farmer.

UM. 11.2.13

I agree $412.7.13

CONFIDENT IA L.

you

sir,

275

C.O

22231

RECE

REG 30 JUN 13

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG, 5th. June, 1913.

With reference to the 5th. paragraph of your

218 Confidential Despatch of the 20th. of July, 1912, I have the honour

12

to inform you that I have had under consideration a report, dated

the 13th. of March, 1913, drawn up by lár. R. 0. Hutchison, Superintendent of Imports and Exports, on the proposal to bring the preparation and sale of opium for local consumption and authorised export under the direct control of the Government,

2.

In his report Mr. Hutchison wrote "it is obvious I think that under a monopoly the Government can maintain a closer and stricter control over the use of opium, that its policy with regard to opium can be more quickly and easily adopted to meet changing circumstances, and that abuses can be checked as they arise without the danger of being involved in the payment of large sums in compensation for a breach of agreement”.

7

3.

In this opinion and my Executive Council concur and accordingly I sent Mr. Hutchison, with the permission

of the Governor of the Straits Settlements, to Singapore to study the methods in vogue there for the control of the preparation and sale of opium for consumption.

4.

It is unnecessary for me to trouble you with either the first or second of r, Hutchison's reports which are largely concerned with many matters of intricate detail. It will

suffice

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,

&c.,

&C..

&c...

*