525
No. 9
31
93
HONGKONG.
REPORTS ON MORPHINE INJECTION.
(In continuation of No. 30 of 1893.)
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, on the 12th September, 1893.
(Opium Farmers to Colonial Treasurer.)
HONGKONG, 24th May, 1893.
SIR,
The Prepared Opium Ordinance of 1891, section 10, provides for the preparation. and sale of prepared opium, and the word "preparation" by the interpretation clause in the Ordinance is stated thus: "the subjecting of opium of any kind to any degree of artificial heat, for any purpose whatever shall be taken to be the preparing of such opium."
In the latter part of section 10 it is provided "that no medical practitioner, chemist or druggist, not being a Chinese, or being such and having a European or American diploma, shall be prevented from preparing or selling opium bond fide for medical purposes.
"
Within the last few months a number of establishments have been opened in Hongkong, to which those who have acquired the habit of opium-smoking have been induced to resort for the purpose of having a preparation of opium adminis- tered by means of subcutaneous injections. As the charge made for each injection is very small, large numbers of Chinese have been induced to frequent these houses, and, we believe, that a considerable diminution in the receipts of the Farm arising from the sale of prepared opium for local consumption has been owing to this cause. Under these circumstances we would ask you to be good enough to suggest to the Government either some modification of the law with reference to the sale of preparations of opium, or else that a law might be passed making the subcutaneous injection of drugs, except under certain restrictions and by a duly qualified medical man, a punishable offence.
We are informed that a large number of persons have been seriously injured in their health by having recourse to the places above mentioned, and as the practice is at the same time likely to affect permanently the revenue of the Colony as well as the present Opium Farmers, we feel justified in urging you to bring the matter to the serious attention of the Colonial Government.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
HAU FOOK COMPANY, Opium Farmers.
The Honourable N. G. MITCHELL-INNES,
Colonial Treasurer',
&C.,
Se..
So.