CO129-502-10 Macao opium traffic 6-12-1926 - 7-12-1927 — Page 82

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Li M. Dieliigne (0-3)

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PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Dated 15th August, 1927.

(Received, Colonial Office, 2.13 p.m. 15th August, 1927).

17.5)

(41)

In my confidential despatch of the 22nd ultimo

I have reported that on the 13th July, in order to tide

Macao over the initial difficulties attendant on the

institution of a Government monopoly I supplied the

Government of that Colony with 10 chests of Indian opium.

Your telegram of 30th June refers.

An urgent request has reached me to-day for a

further supply. There are no longer any stocks of Indian

opium in Macao and it is anticipated that unless it is

possible to meet the legitimate demand for opium a serious

crisis will occur. I have had a personal letter from

Governor to the effect that at present Macao cannot exist

without opium revenue. The Governor adds that he cannot

face Macao dying on his hands as a result of his having

imposed the spirit of the convention of Macao by

instituting the system of direct Government control, as

has been done in other territories. Unless therefore he

is able to obtain a,legitimate supply of Indian opium he

will be obliged to resign.

There is no doubt in my mind as to the genuineness

of the desire of the present Governor of Macao to control

the opium trade of that Colony. Moreover the control of

the trade in Macao is of very great importance not only to

Hong Kong, but as affecting the control of the opium

Having regard to the

traffic throughout the Far East.

urgency