CO129-498-18 Activities of Haji Muhammad Hasan Namazi- connection with the opium traffic 5-5-1926 - 24-12-1926 — Page 68

illicit traffic.

So far as we are aware, although this business was conducted from Hongkong, none of the opium was ever destined for the Colony. The Home Office and Foreign Office however were concerned at this businees being conducted from a British Colony and in ships

(CF.H.0.2632/24) flying the British flag.

The Governor's reply to repeated representations by the Home Office was that notoriety is not a substitute for evidence. Nemazi always appeared to be very careful to refrain from infringing the (quite stringent) Hongkong opium Laws and there was no evidence on which a charge could be brought under the Hongkong Ordinance. In spite of the mass of information in their possession Home Office were/unable to provide any such definite evidence.

have been

The next move (at the instance of the Home Office) was to amend the Ordinance to give the Hongkong Government the same rights of search of premises, books etc., and rights to seize documents etc., as Home Office have under the Dangerous Drugs Acts; and when the Ordinance had been so amended, Home Office constantly urged that advantage should be taken of these powers to raid Nemazi's premises. The Hongkong Government was however not willing to make a raid on the premises of such a prominent local figure, who had great legitimate trade interests, unless it was pretty certain that it would in fact be likely to produce evidence on which a charge could be based.

Shortly