541
possessing
a bottle of bye wash or
a couple of cough lozenges because the
Attorney General believes that he has been carrying
on an
unlawful trade.
I submit that this provision is
and if allowed would form a
dangerous precedent.
And on what would the Attorney General grant
his fiat? Necessarily
on the evidence of Chinese detectives and other untrustworthy subordinates, evidence unsworn, untested by cross-examination, kept secret from the Accused who might otherwise rebut it.
And the provision though inflicting great and indefinite hardships on Chinese individuals and on traders is quite futile as to its object.
No Chinaman prepared to risk the penalties of Clause 1 would be prevented from obtaining hypodermic syringes by the extra cost of sending to Canton. As well prohibit the sale of an article freely bought in London which was sold at Gravesend.
The provision in Clause 5 should, I respectfully submit, have been against the possession of a hypodermic syringe or of morphine with intent to commit the offence treated