:
459
:
accepted as certain that smuggling will continue as
long as the production is carried on in Chinato the
present enormous extent, and probably will to a certain
extent be increased. While the preventive service would
be maintained at its present high level of efficiency
and every effort within the powers of the Government
would be made to cope with the evil, I should not consider that the Government of Hong Kong was called upon
to do more than it is at present doing in this respect.
6. I should, therefore, be glad if, in connection
with the enquiry into the recommendations of the Advisory
Committee, you will cause the suggestions and considera-
tions mentioned in the previous paragraphs of this
despatch to be examined with the greatest care.
7. I observe that in paragraph 12 of his report,
the Superintendent of Imports and Exports calls attention
to the difficulty (under the existing opium Ordinance) of
dealing with bulk inports of opium. This point is no
doubt receiving attention in connection with the
overhauling of the Ordinance which I suggested in my
despatch of the 11th of June.
8. As I have indicated in paragraph 5 I fully
realise that in view of the unique geographical situation
and features of HongKong and the conditions at present
prevailing on the mainland of China, it is virtually impossible, by the ordinary preventive measures (however efficient the preventive service may be), to stop
completely the smuggling of opium into the Colony. As
suggested by Mr.Lloyd in paragraph 13 of his report, it
would appear that the only really effective way of dealing with the problem is to supplement the ordinary preventive measures by concentrating special efforts on the
[? (-) (362678) Wt. 0112/36 Gp. 140 60,000 11-22 W & slad
detection
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