CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 211

Linis Document is the Property of His Britannic Majestys Government.)

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Finally it was decided that Mr. Severn should put his proposals for the restriction of exported opium to 120 chests into writing, and that M. da Fonseca should submit them to his Government, it being clearly understood that the Government of Portugal or of Macao would be the sole judge of the question whether there was a legitimate demand as shown by the certificate system for more than 120 chests per annum. the receipt of his Government's reply another meeting would be held.

The meeting then adjourned.

On

OPIUM

CONFIDENTIAL.

210

[January 13.]

SECTION 1.

C.O.

5120

[2200]

[AMENDED COPY.]

No. 1.

RECO REGE 12 EEB 131 Minutes of Meeting held on the 13th January, 1913, at the Foreign Office to-

discuss the Opium Traffic at Macao with a Representative of the Portuguese Government.

W

A MEETING was held at the Foreign Office on the 13th January, 1913, to discuss with the Directeur général of the Portuguese Colonial Office (Senhor Eusebio da Fonseca), duly authorised by his Government the steps which could be taken to place There were present the opium traffic in Macao on a more satisfactory basis. Mr. B. F. Alston of the Foreign Office; Mr. F. C. Drake of the India "Office; Mr. C. Severa, the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong; and Mr. J. R. W. Robinson, representing the Colonial Office.

Under the present contract between the Government of Macao and the opium farmer, which expires on the 30th June, 1913, the farmer is permitted to prepare 500 chests of opium for local consumption aud 1,500 chests for export. Mr. Severn observed that Hong Kong had a Chinese population of 450,000, whereas Macao's population was about 90,000, and that the requirements of Hong Kong, which had been very carefully ascertained, were 45 chests a-month (540 chests a-year) for local consumption. Ile suggested that 500 chests for local consumption in Macao was excessive.

M. da Fonseca pointed out that, in addition to the permanent population, large numbers of Chinese came into the colony simply to smoke opium; he thought that on the whole people in Macao were heavier smokers than in Hong Kong.

After some discussion it was agreed that, for the purpose of instituting a comparison between the two colonies, a reasonable basis would be to reckon the opium consuming population of Macao at 200,000. M. da Fonseca agreed that on this basis Macao's local requirements would be amply supplied by 22 chests a-month or 260 chests a-year.

The question of the export trade was then considered. M. da Fonseca said that 18,000 taels of opium were exported to Panamá in 1911, and 398,000 taels to Mexico.

Mr. Severn pointed out that a chest of opium produced 1,100 taels; that on these figures Panamá had had about 18 chests and Mexico 362 chests in 1911, a total of 380 chests; and that even taking 1,000 taels of prepared opium as equivalent to a chest of raw opium, the total export would only be 416 chests in 1911.

M. da Fonseca acknowledged that the Marao Government had no proof that opium, presumed to be exported to Mexico, actually reached that country.

M. da Fonseca expressed the sincere desire of the Portuguese Government to work in unity with His Majesty's Government to carry out the opium convention, and he said that his Government would be ready to adopt on the same day any regulations which the Hong Kong Government made for the control of the traffic. Mr. Severn explained that negotiations were in progress with the Mexican Government, by which it was hoped that a complete check could be kept on all exports from Hong Kong to that country. The proposal was that any person in Mexico who desired to import opium should obtain from the Government a certificate that the opium was required, and should forward it with his requisition to the Hong Kong farmer, who would not be allowed to comply with the requisition without the production to a Hong Kong officer of the certificate. Similarly the Hong Kong farmer would be required to obtain and exhibit to the proper officer a receipt from the consigner showing that the opium had duly arrived in Mexico.

M. da Fonseca expressed himself as perfectly ready to adopt these measures if the negotiations were successful; he pointed out, however, that nothing could be done till the end of June, when the present contract expires. But he proposed that the new contract should be drawn up on a basis of allowing the farmer 260 chests for local Both Mr. Severn and Mr. Drake thought the latter consumption and 500 for export. figure excessive, and it was finally decided that, until the British Minister in Mexico

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