AAAA
-11-
As regards the sale and storage of opium, by the Chosen Opium Control Law issued in June, 1919, free dis- posal between private individuals, handling and storage were restricted and strict control was enforced so as to
At afford little opportunity for illegal use of opium. the opium harvest police officers are present in the fields and make the best efforts to keep it in control.
CONTROL OF OPIUM IN KUA NGTUNG PROVINCE.
541
Although no special regulations have yet been issued respecting the production of opium and dealings therein, poppy cultivation is strictly prohibited and any poppy
With regard to plantation is, if discovered, burnt down. the importation, manufacture, sale and possession of crude opium, the provisions in the Criminal Code relative to opium is applied under the Law for the Conduct of Judicial Affairs in Kuangtung Province, and the restriction exer- cised is very strict. But as it is necessary for the re- lief of habituated opium smokers to permit the importation and sale of crude opium under a definite restriction, spe- cial permission has been given to a Chinese charitable as- sociation named Kosei-zendo, which is engaged in importing crude opium through Tairen as the only port of importation, and under the present system, there are specially licensed retail dealers who purchase crude opium from Kosei-zendo and making opium chandoo from it, sell it to those persons who are licensed to smoke opium, Any opium in possession for which proper steps have not been taken must be confis- cated; and although it is the usual custom to effect con- fiscation by judicial decision, offenders frequently abscond and make it impossible to bring them to court; and moreover, as it is found most troublesome to lock up a large number
it has of offenders as is often the case during a trial, been decided in the case of first offenders and those whose offences are light, to confiscate as an administrative dis- position, under the provisions of Government Ordinance N° 10, 1916, concerning the Confiscation of Guns, Powder, Opium, Morphine and Cocaine. The exportation of crude opium and opium chandoo is strictly prohibited and measures are being taken for the gradual prohibition of the manufac- ture, sale and use of opium chandoo,
The establishment of a law for the control of opium has for some time been under consideration of the Govern- mant; and it will before long be promulgated.
------- 000 --- make for a po