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consumption, but of late years while the area under poppy cultivation in China has steadily increased, the importation of Indian and Persian Opium has declined. This change is at all events in part due to the fact that the production of opium is one of the most remunerative crops in the whole Empire, while owing to the gradual improvement in the quality of the native drug, this is gradually replacing the more expensive imported article.
Without going into the question as to whether it is wise, even if possible, to entirely suppress the use of the drug, it will be perhaps as well to remark that all native races have some sort of stimulant or drug the use of which so long as it is not abused cannot be seriously objected to, except by a few extreme enthusiasts.
The total suppression of the use of opium in China if carried into effect may bring a still worse evil upon the country and this has already been foreshadowed by the increased use of so called "anti-opium" pills and morphine, the use of the latter by hypodermic injection being on the increase, particularly in the neighbourhood of the treaty ports, to an alarming extent.
While admitting that the British Govern- ment should do all in its power to assist the Imperial Govern- ment in any serious attempt which may be made to curtail and ultimately perhaps suppress the use of opium, it appears to this Committee desirable to point out at this stage the risk which we run of having a valuable section of British trade destroyed solely for the benefit of native competition.
As is well known the local officials are all opposed to the importation of foreign opium; not only is the import duty, but also the full lekin, collected at the port of entry, and being remitted to Peking by the Imperial Maritime Customs all chance of undue profit therefrom is lost to the Provincial Authorities who see what is to them an untaxed article passing their barriers and competing with their own opium
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