Licensees or persons who claim that they have received opium under an official export certificate are exempt.
The provisions of the bill have, I believe, received the approval of the Secretary of State.
The Bill introduced was as set out in Schedule report.
In consequence of the representations made by the importers of, and retail and wholesale dealers in opium, Section 44 of the original draft Ordinance, which prohibited everyone except the Opium Farmer from having in his possession opium in quantities less than one chest, has been struck out and Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Ordinance have been inserted in lieu thereof.
Section 44 of the original draft Bill gave the Opium Farmer the right of searching any person, premises, or thing in custody, and of entering the premises where such Opium was stored. This has been amended by substituting the Superintendent of Imports and Exports for the Opium Farmer.
(Signed) Ede J. Ackroyd, Acting Attorney General.