CO129-401 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [5-6] — Page 344

C.O

PY.

fidential.

23182

Rec?

Rros 7 JUL 13

Sir,

338

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Hongkong, 11th. June, 1913.

I am directed to inform you that this Coveriment

has under consideration a proposal to abolish the existing Hongkong Opium Farm, when its contract expires at the end of next February, and to bring the preparation and sale of opium for local consump- -tion and authorised export under the direct control of this Government. In the event of such a Government Lionopoly being established in Hongkong I should be glad to know if your Government would be prepared to supply raw opium to this Government for the service of the year 1914, and if so upon what terms.

The amount required would be about 500 chests per annum of which 100 should be delivered in December next, the rest being sent in instalments of say 30 chests a month from February,

1914.

I am etc..

(Sd.) A. M. Thomson,

Colonial Secretary.

The Secretary to the Goverment of India,

Deli.