CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 88

+

t

#&

ivC

[

01.

144

1 -

Bakt.

:

VO

i

i

- 20:

eith-

$

1

86

was not contained in Your Excellency's Note, the floating

population of this Portuguese Colony may be estimated 600,000

people. Taking this factor into consideration the quantity of

two hundred and sixty chests to which Macao has limited its

holle consumption of opium does not appear to be excessive.

Under this head of quantity of opium the Portuguese

Government would, however, be disposed to agree, as a proof of

its desire to realise the aims of the Convention of 1912, that

the mumber of chests for home consumption be lowered to two

hundred and forty and reduced yearly after the first year of

the new agrement by twenty chests down to a minimum limit of

sixty chests.

With regard to the export of prepared opium I must in the

first place draw attention to the fact that the Convention of

1912 imposes upon the Fortuguese Goverment the duty of

restricting it but not abandoning it entirely.. In many other

regions and ports trade in opium is allowed, and Portugal,

which, for instance, has in its possession of Timor a large

Chinese opium-smoking colony, cannot accept an obligation of

restriction the rigours of which would only be felt by her.

In limiting to (7 by) 130 chests, as above stated, the quantity

the to which the agreement of 1913 fixed the limit of 340,

Government of the Colony has amply proved its respect both

for the latter and the spirit of 1912.

On this paint Portugal is prepared to accept a reduction also gradual, 120 chests being fixed as the quantity for export in the first year of the new agreement, with annual decreases of

10 chests until the limit of 30 cheats is attained.

The Portuguese Goverment is also ready to accept the condition that importe of opium from India into 'saeo should be accompanied by a certificate in which the Goverment of the Portuguese Colony will declare that the imports are destined

for legitimate purposes.

The Goverment of the Republic is not able to agree, however, to the clause regarding transhipment in Hongkong

ot/