There is a considerable amount of hostile feeling in the matter. It is seen in pamphlets in which the influence of anti-opium foreigners is discerned, which are distributed gratis amongst the people, and in conversation the people complain that England derives a great deal of money from the Chinese for supplying what is harmful to them.
It may fairly be remarked amongst the Chinese, that the whole physical causes proportionately little more harm to the consumers than alcohol does to European drinkers, alcohol drinking amongst Europeans causes proportionately infinitely more crime and suffering amongst Europeans than opium smoking does amongst Chinese.
(JA) W. Stanton.
Inspector.
RECEIVED
2956M 40
147
Answers by the Government Analyst of Hong Kong to the questions regarding opium issued by order of the Royal Commission on Opium in October 1893.
1. Yes, by the Chinese.
The census returns give some information as to opium smoking. 18,000 has been stated as the number of opium smokers in this Colony. Children do not smoke opium: Women do, but only to a limited extent.
3. As to the moral, physical, and social effects of opium smoking, I have had no experience of any race other than the Chinese with the exception to be alluded to under question 127. A good opium smoker appears to be as good a man morally, and as good physically and socially.
The Chinese chiefly smoke opium. There are cases in which opium and morphine are taken internally.