68
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(8)
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No!
Opium smokers are in proportion greater. No efficiency effecting in their calling, except where strength is required to perform hard labour.
The use of Opium and Alcohol in moderation among any race is not injurious but the results of the abuses of alcohol are more distressing and more disastrous than those of Opium.
The smoking of Opium in moderation or in excess and the drinking of alcohol in moderation are not considered a degradation, but drinking alcohol excessively is generally condemned.
(10) Opium smoking can always be cured from one week to a month's time, it depends upon the quantity consumed by (11) If the Indian opium be cut off, it would nearly be cured the Smoker abstain. It will not effect the Chinese very much, not even the Asiatics. The former will get supply from elsewhere. Some may suffer from the habit, but I don't think they will resort to alcohol or any other narcotics. Opium smoking is like gambling, as drinking with Europeans it is a national vice, and it can never be altogether done away with.
(12) About one sixth of the revenue in Hong Kong is derived from Opium monopoly, and the loss can be made up from various kinds of taxes which naturally will be borne by the people. The people will simply reconcile the idea of the absence...