CO129-408 - Public Offices & Others - 1913 — Page 419

395

3

!

I

ν

v so long

остонтед на

opmim my be imported

so long, it is not for

may

the Colonial Ear? At so anto itsing to bay in the dearest market.

(Happ

an inicirculation intha oft

JR 14/6/13.

It is a pity that the O.A.G. referred to the question

of erecting permanent Offices. I am afraid that lik

others in the Far East he does not realize that

opium smoking in British Colonies has to be brought

to an end eventually, though we cannot go faster in

reducing it at present. On this point we had better

tell Mr. Taylor that H.M.G. fully intend to proceed

with the suppression and ultimate complete suppression

of opium-smoking as soon as the effective regulation

of the morphia and cocaine traffic under the recent

Hague Convention makes it possible to take further

steps without encouraging the more deleterious

practice of morphine and cocaine injection.

As to the stooks at Shanghai &c. we must I sup-

pose explain that prices, haye been forced so high

until the firin

vwy lash romant

that we cannot afford to buy from that source the

A

amount of opium still required for consumption in

H. Kong. And 9 add that the praction at smugg

artiffinially

opium into China has no doubt bontributed to

the high price of the certificated stocks, and

that H. Kong does not wish to be penalized on

that account.

This letter had better be registered and

a draft for Mr. Harcourt's sig. sent on for

conson.

AVC

14. X. 13

of conson

C

14.10.

aboute

le 14.10.13

****** *11.