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to be free of the evil. Allusion is made to the steps taken by the Wai-wu Pu for the gradual abolition of the import of foreign opium, and to the necessity of stopping the cultivation of the poppy, especially in the Hsuchow Prefecture, which is the only important poppy district in the Kiangsu Province. The question of the regulation of opium shops is treated in the same way as in the original Peking Regulations (Article 5), with the addition of a provision that local gentry are to be employed as intermediary between the shopkeepers and the authorities for the issue of licences, and that no fee is to be exacted in respect of such licences. The official manufacture of anti-opium remedies and the establishment of anti-opium Societies is to be taken in hand at once. The co-operation of foreigners in the prohibitive measures at the various Treaty port Settlements is to be invited by the Customs Superintendents as soon as a precedent has been established at Shanghae. In the above instructions there is no allusion to the issue of licences to smokers, nor, except as regards military stations, to the prohibition of opium-houses, but it is stated that the instructions are only supplementary to those already promulgated. His Majesty's Consul has not heard of any measures taken at Nanking for the licensing of smokers, or for the formation of anti-opiun Societies. It is stated in the Shanghae native press that the Provincial Government is arranging to take over the sale of opium as a Government monopoly, with a head office at Nanking, and offices in every prefecture, district, and department, from which duly licensed branch shops can procure their supplies. A sum of 1,000,000 taels is required to start the scheme, two-thirds of which is to be found by the opium merchants.
Newchwang.
His Majesty's Acting Consul reported on the 30th April that under the Regulations issued by the Military Governor of the province for the suppression of the opium habit, a limit of six months was given to the opium-smoking shops of Newchwang to close down, and that this limit expires on the 13th May. From that date all the opium dens now doing business will be ordered to close their doors. The Taotai has established two refugees for the cure of the opium habit, where persons desiring to rid themselves of it may obtain medical attendance, and may, if they desire, bind themselves not to relapse. The conditions under which they take the oath are very strict, and offenders are put in the cangue and paraded through the streets.
Pakhoi.
His Majesty's Acting Consul reported on the 15th April that "the import of Benares and of Patna opium maintains its average." That no Yunnan opium entered the port during the quarter ended the 31st March, and that no steps had so far been taken to restrict the use of opium by the public.
Peking.
A local newspaper publishes the following on the 17th May
"The date fixed by the Chinese city police for the closing of opium houses has arrived. It was recently arranged that from the 17th May they should all be closed, and any unauthorized sales will meet with prompt and severe punishment. Special officers have been appointed to superintend and make investigations."
Another local paper, dated the 23rd April, in a leading article expresses suspicion of the attitude of the British Government on the question of restricting the importation of opium, objecting to a penalty for failure to effect complete suppression of the use of opium in China within the stated period of ten years, this being a measure of internal policy in which England need have no voice, and demanding to be informed of the steps the British Government intends to take for the restriction of the export from India.
It appears to be a fact that the opium dens have all been closed in the capital.
Wuchow,
His Majesty's Consul reports under date the 15th April that the Taotal of Nanning has issued a Proclamation ordering the closing of all opium dens within thirty days,
and forbidding the manufacture of the various opium instruments smokers use. The opium smokers are said to be chiefly of the poorer classes. A Proclamation was posted in Wuchow on the 10th March in connection with Article 4 of the proposals for carrying out the prohibition of opium. It is headed, "To prohibit opium houses in order to purify the abodes of pollution." The opium dens are to be closed, compulsorily if necessary, at the expiry of one month, and the shops for the sale of pipe-stems or bowls, opium lamps, or other smoking appliances, are given to the end of the sixth month within which to close business, under penalty of a heavy fine.
The excise per lamp in the opium dens is to cease concurrently with the closing of the latter at the end of a month.
Eating houses, restaurants, public temples, schools, guest houses, and cook shops, are forbidden to furnish opium for the use of guests, nor are guests permitted to bring smoking appliances with them, under penalty of a beavy fine.
W. J. G.
562