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9th February, 1909, the first prohibiting any foreign or domestic vessel from receiving, concealing on board, or transporting opium, prepared for smoking to the United States, the Philippine Islands, and the territorial waters thereof; and, second, prohibiting the exportation of any opium, cocaine, or derivatives, or preparations thereof to any country prohibiting their entry or regulating their entry, provided, however, that the above- mentioned drugs may be exported to countries regulating their entry if and when the exporter conforms to the regulations issued by a country regulating the importation of the aforesaid drugs."
4. The consul for France wrote in a letter dated the 14th December last that no ross opium, morphine, or compounds of opium had been exported from French possessions to Hong Kong or other Far Eastern ports during the last few years, and he added in a letter, dated the 6th instant, that the Governor-General of Indo-China bad already proposed to the Minister for the Colonies in last November the prohibition of the export of opium; that a regulation on this subject was at the present time under consideration of the Council of State; that, in order to meet the wishes of the Colony of Hong Kong, the Governor-General telegraphed to the Minister for the Colonies on the 19th of last June proposing to add a regulation prohibiting the export of dress opium, but that as regards compounds of opium (and specially morphine), it was proposed to await the result of the suggested opium conference at The Hague, He stated also that the trade in morphine and compounds of opium was so strictly supervised that the export of these articles to neighbouring countries might be considered as non-existent.
5. Finally, the consul-general for the Netherlands replied in a letter, dated the 29th August, 1910-
"The Netherlands Indian Government is quite willing to reciprocate the measures taken by the Government of Hong Kong as regards the export of opium, &c.
"It is not necessary for the Netherlands Indian Government, however, to take fresh measures as to the export (except for medical purposes) of opium, dross opium, morphine, or compounds of opium, as the possession and transport thereof in the Archipelago have already been much restricted, and are generally allowed in small quantities only (1 tael opium and a-half dross).
"As regards the exportation of opium, &c., for medical purposes, a new ordinance is now being prepared, which prohibits the export of opium, dross opium, morphine, opium compounds, and hypodermic syringes to such countries and colonies to be notified by the Governor-General, where importation of these articles is not allowed; exportation will only be permitted when an official certificate can be shown to the effect that the opium, &c., may be imported in the place of destination.
"As soon as the above ordinance will come into force Hong Kong will be notified in the first place as a colony where importation of the above articles is not free."
I have, &c.
F. D. LUGARD.
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