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CONFIDENTIAL.
Hongkong.
My Lord,
300
36233-
Han 26 NOV 10
Government Höüse,"
Hongkong, 24th October,1910.
I have the honour to furnish the
following report on the working of Section 43 of Ordinance
No.23 of 1909 in pursuance of which the opening, keeping or
using of Opium Divans was made illegal from the 1st. of
March last.
2.
As was to be expected various de-
vices have been employed to evade the law. In all cases the
smoker buye his opium outside and brings it with him. There
is the illicit Divan where a direct charge for smoking is
made.
covered.
This class is of course easily dealt with if dis-
Then there is the Divan in which the Dross (ashes)
of the Opium smoked by visitors is retained by the keeper.
In cases of this description convictions in unfended cases
in which the defendants pleaded guilty have been obtained.
A defended case of this kind is pending. Another class of
case has recently come to notice in which a comparatively
smoker.
high charge is made for tea and cakes supplied to the
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE EARL OF CREWE,
&C.
&c.
&0.
ļ