:
COPY.
Enclosure.l.
Ch'i Shih Erh Hang Shang Pao
www
1.4.13.
Imposition of term for destruction of prepared Opium still in
stock in Canton Province.
418
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Circular instructions from Chief of Police to District Magistrate
in their capacity of Ching Ch'a Chang.
I am in receipt of instructions from the Tu Tu which read as follows:- "The District Magistrate of Hui Yang has reported the "successfull termination of the case of the T'ien T'ai firm, who "were found to have prepared opium still in stock. You will inform *the Magistrates of all districts that they must circularise "prepared opium shops within their jurisdiction, enjoining upon "them the necessity, under penalty of fine, of destroying on their "pwn initiative any stocks of prepared opium, which they may still "possess and of refraining from further sale of that article, such "sale being now illegal".
It is true that since the inception of the Opium Crusade throughout the Province, the majority of prepared opium dealers have already reported the cessation of their trade: nevertheless there must still be quite a number who project profit from the illicit sale of stock still in hand. In view of the stringent measures at present in force for the suppression of all forms of the opium evil, the hoarding up of stocks merely favours a re- -crudescence of the evil practice. In accordance with the mandate of the Tu Tu, I hereby instruct you to circularise all prepared opium shops commanding them to destroy all stocks of prepared opium within a term of five days and to desist from further storing or sale in the future: non-observance of this order within the term specified to be dealt with under Section 266 of the New Penal Code. Reports should also be made to this office on the result of steps taken.