CO129-498-18 Activities of Haji Muhammad Hasan Namazi- connection with the opium traffic 5-5-1926 - 24-12-1926 — Page 69

(H.0.23965/24 and H.0.49286/24)

Shortly after this (1923) Nemazi left Hongkong

for Persia and the Governor expressed the view that any hope of getting any evidence by a raid on the Hongkong office might be abandoned.

(In the meantime Home Office turned their attention to the Persian Gulf end of Nemazi's operations, and after a prolonged discussion with the Foreign Office and Board of Trade, Kings Regulations were issued (in 1925) by which it was made illegal for british ships to leave the Persian Gulf laden with opium until the Master had entered into a bond to deliver the opium at the declared destination).

The

The

In May 1924, Home Office took strong exception to the attitude of the Governor of Hongkong on this question. They doubted whether/Hongkong Government's interpretation of their Ordinance was correct, but suggested that the way to make sure of him was to amend the Hongkong Opium Ordinances to make it illegal for anyone in the Colony to deal in opium whether in the Colony or elsewhere except under licence.

They also pressed for (1) Nemazi's certificate of local naturalisation to be cancelled (2) his commission as a J.P. to be cancelled, (3) in the event of his return to Hongkong (which was then understood to be imminent) for him or any member of his family or firm to be denied any travelling facilities.

A despatch on these lines was addressed to the Governor and the upshot was

(1)