[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
[November 9.] 638
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Prince Ching.
Your Highness,
Peking, October 10, 1908.
THE contents of your Highness' note of the 28th September to the effect that, the Treaty Powers having all agreed to its conditions, Article 11 of the British-Chinese Treaty of the 5th September, 1902, on the subject of the prohibition of the importation of morphia, would be brought into force from the 1st January, 1909, were submitted by me to His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs by telegraph, and I am now in receipt of telegraphic instructions expressing the assent of His Majesty's Government to the course therein proposed by the Chinese Government.
Notifications in this sense will be issued at all His Majesty's Consulates in China as soon as practicable.
I avail, &c.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1.
CHINA TRADE,
CONFIDENTIAL.
[39044]
No. 1.
SECTION 1,
Home Office to Foreign Office.--(Received November 9.)
Sir,
Home Office, November 5, 1908.
IN continuation of my letter of the 26th ultimo, and with further reference to your inquiry of the 10th idem, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Gladstone to forward, for Sir Edward Grey's information, copy of a report which has been furnished by the Commissioner of Police in regard to opium dens in this country.
Lodging-houses, such as those referred to in the inclosed Report, are required to conform to regulations made by the local authority, but Mr. Gladstone is not aware that there are any regulations in force in this country applying to opium dens as such.
I am, &c.
(Signed) W. P. BYRNE.
Sir,
Circular to Consuls.
Peking, October 10, 1908.
I INCLOSE, for your information and guidance, copies of correspondence with the Wai-wu Pu in regard to Article 11 of the British-Chinese Treaty of the 5th September, 1902 (prohibition of the general importation of morphia), which it has been agreed shall be brought into operation from the 1st January, 1909.
You are requested to issue the notification to British subjects which is inclosed, and to take whatever steps may be necessary to secure the proper fulfilment of the Treaty provisions pending the issue of a King's Regulation, which is under consideration.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
Notification.
I am, &c.
UNDER instructions received from His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Undersigned hereby notifies British subjects that His Majesty's Government has agreed to the enforcement, from the 1st January, 1909, of Article 11 of the Treaty which was concluded between Great Britain and China at Shanghae on the 5th September, 1902. From the 1st January, 1909, the importation of morphia, and instruments for its injection, into China will consequently be prohibited by the Chinese Government. Due provision will, however, be made for the importation into China of morphia and instruments for its injection for medicinal purposes, and all British subjects concerned are requested to ascertain without delay from the nearest British Consulate the method of procedure to be followed in that regard.
Peking, October 10, 1908.
(Signed) J. N. JORDAN,
His Britannic Majesty's Minister.
Inclosure in No. 1.
Report communicated by the Commissioner of Police to Home Office.
Metropolitan Police, Limehouse Station, "K" Division, October 30, 1908.
WITH reference to the information asked for by the Home Office re opium dens, &c., I beg to report that there are no regulations known to Police regarding the use of opium in this country.
At the present time there are thirteen Chinese boarding-houses known to Police situated in this district, viz., Lum Yut Wah's, of 6, Limehouse Causeway; Ng Yong's, 8, Limehouse Causeway; Kwong Chong's, 10, Limehouse Causeway; Ah Hon's, 11, Limehouse Causeway; Wah Hup's, 18, Limehouse Causeway; Charles King's, 21, Limehouse Causeway; Chance's, 13, Limehouse Causeway; Charles King's, Pennyfields; Ah Hon's, Pennyfields; Ng Heng's, 72 and 74, West India Dock Road; Ah Hon's, 33, West India Dock Road; and Charles King's, 39, West India Dock Road.
All these houses are for the accommodation of Chinese sailors, and are under the supervision of the London County Council as lodging-houses. They offer the barest accommodation, and are used exclusively by Chinamen.
Opium smoking is a national habit, with them, and they indulge in it in their bedrooms. The practice is rather on the decrease than otherwise.
(Signed) ALFD. BALL, Local Inspector.
JAS. CAMERON, Superintendent.
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