CO129-502-10 Macao opium traffic 6-12-1926 - 7-12-1927 — Page 83

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urgency of the crisis and to my conviction as to the necessity I have to-day supplied (at cost price) four

further chests of Indian opium from the stocks of Hong Kong.

I trust that you will approve this gesture of friendship

for a neighbouring colony.

The Foreign Office has, I understand, been approached

by the Portuguese Ambassador for assistance in getting

Macao supplied with 120 chests of Indian opium a year.

I consider that 120 chests a year is a reasonable quantity

of Indian opium for Macao; and the request for this quantity (subject to annual reduction as in the case of

Hong Kong) has my support. I hope that by the end of this month, (i.e. the period for which these four chests wil last) the Portuguese Ambassador will have received a reply

from His Majesty's Government.