7400
REC REG 16 B22
HOME OFIC
20
WHITCHAI
15th February, 1922.
My dear Grindle,
I think we may have some difficulty at the approaching
meeting of the Opium Advisory Committee of the League of Nations in
connection with Question 11 in the Questionnaire which was issued last
year. That question asks, with reference to places where the
Government has not yet entirely suppressed the manufacture of, trade
in or use of prepared opium, by what date the Government proposes to
complete the suppression. The question has reference to Article 6
of the International Opium Convention 1912, by which the Contracting
Powers undertake to take measures for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture of, internal trade in, and use of prepared opium, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each
country concerned.
Hong Kong, in its reply to the question, says:-
"The Government of Hongkong cannot fix any date for discontinuing the sale of prepared opium since, while opium is still largely grown in China, cessation of the sale of Government prepared opium would not reduce the consumption of opium in the Colony. The physical formation of the Colony makes it impossible to prevent muggling from China, and the incentives to smuggling would be enormously increased if no legitimate supplies of opium were available for consumers. attempt at suppression before China has ceased to grow opium would in all probability result in an increase rather than a reduction of consumption."
British North Borneo replies:-
"The consumption of opium is entirely confined to the Chinese who are practically rationed at a very moderate rate of consumption. The Court are not prepared to deprive them of this as doing so would lead to disorder, discontent, and 111-health."
Any
These replies seem to indicate that the Local Governments
Sir G. Grindle, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
concerned/
dia
fice
PILS.