§ Mr. REESasked whether the Colonial Office has received any protest from British merchants at Hong Kong against efforts which are being made by the provincial authorities at Canton to tax foreign raw opium without regard to treaty provisions in this behalf?
§ Sir EDWARD GREYThe Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce has referred the matter to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires
1534Wat Peking, who reports that regulations were issued by the Canton provincial authorities on 7th June enforcing a tax on prepared opium. He has informed the Wai-wu-pu that he could not accept any regulation enforcing an additional duty on raw foreign opium in a treaty port. They have promised to call for a report from the Viceroy of Canton.