[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
OPIUM.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[33444]
6.1
[July 23.]
(REG 2714]
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Foreign Office. (Received July 23.)
Downing Street, July 22, 1914. Í AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, with reference to letter to the Colonial Office of the 8th April, copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of the smuggling of opium into China from Macao.
Enclosure I in No. 1.
I am, &c.
JOHN ANDERSON,
Governor Sir F. May to Mr. Harcourt.
(Confidential,) Sir,
Hong Kong, June 16, 1914. WITH reference to your Confidential despatch of the 7th April, and to the remarks contained in Sir John Jordan's despatch No. 95 of the 7th March last to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the subject of the smuggling of opium into China from Macao and the large revenue derived from the opium farin in that colony, I have the honour to transmit the enclosed estimate prepared by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports of the profit obtainable from the Macao opium monopoly on the basis of a local consumption of the proceeds of 260 chests, and of an export of the proceeds of 240 chests of opium per annum. The whole of the 240 chests were exported to Mexico. It is probable that a good proportion of the opium imported for local consumption finds its way to America, Manila, and China. But the farm might be run at a profit without any smuggling to the last-named country.
I have, &c.
F. H. MAY.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
ESTIMATE of a Year's Working of Macao Opium Farm.
Dollars.
1. Sale of 280,800 taela at 7 dol. 50 c. taal
2,106,000
2. Sale of 244,800 taels at 5 dollara a tael
1,224,000
Total
3,330,000
Less 10 per cent. discount on subsidiary coin
533,000
Revenue
2,997,000
Expenditure.
Dollars.
1. Cost of 500 chesta of raw opium at 1,250 dollars, charges
included
625,000
2. Working expenses
144,000
8. Rent to Government
1,056,666
Total
1,825,666
June 8, 1914.
(2905-1
-11
Showing a profit of 1,172,334 dollara.
R. O. HUTCHISON,
Superintendent, Imports and Exports.
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