CO129-510-8 Policy on sale of Opium 12-1-1928 - 24-7-1928 — Page 18

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Ne SECRET

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Sir,

RECEIVE JUN 1928

HONGKONG,

NTED

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

FOR USE

Easlin

155.

COLONIAL

7th May, 1928.

OFFICE

31045308/28 (2 qux the file)

Pup to Seleving me

Celong to Mouncey

In continuation of my Secret despatch of

+ 12th January, I have the honour to report for your

information the action taken subsequently.

2.

On 27th January the price of prepared

opium was restored to the original figure, and the

sale of the lower-priced brands was discontinued.

The brand placed on sale as of a superior quality

to that formerly sold at the same price, containing

a larger amount of Indian opium. But the increase

in quality has signally failed to sustain sales,

which have fallen to a figure far below that of the

year 1924, the last normal year, the sales

averaging only 580 taels per day as compared with

950 taels in 1924.

3. On the same date the officers specially

detailed to suppress divans were withdrawn, and the

scale of rewards offered for the detection of divans

and petty trafficking in illicit opium was cancelled.

The

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY, M.P.,

८

&C.,

&C.,

&C.

Grab. 166/2622. 12. 6/31. (9822

10.27

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