i
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(7) The penalties for illegal possession of "kindred drugs" are exceptionally heavy in Hongkong.
3.
On the general question of opium-smoking it may be convenient to recapitulate here what has always been the policy of this Government. Some considerable proportion of the very large Chinese population of this Colony will continue to smoke opium whether this practice is prohibited by the laws or not. This being so, it seems best to have a Government monopoly for the purpose of supplying, exclusively for the local population, a uniformly high-grade Indian opium (with a low percentage of morphia) at a price so high as to tend to reduce both the consumption per head of smoker and ultimately the number of smokers; with this there goes the abolition of divans or any extraneous incitement to smoke, and rigorous measures against the more harmful narcotics such as cocaine, morphine, etc.
4.
Copies of correspondence with the Anti-Opium
Association are enclosed.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
7.5. Stutts
Governor, &c.
Losures 182.
Toral comm