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Government were committed to the policy of the Opium Convention and it was impossible now to re-open the question of the desirability or otherwise of opium smoking. As to the possi- bility of further measures for the suppression of opium smoking, this was a matter on which the Goverment desired to have the advice of experts. Mr. Fletcher represented one expert view. What had Sir James Jamieson to say?
No one
Sir James Jamieson said that he was an advocate of absolute prohibition. His 38 years' experience of China had convinced him that it was possible. The Chinese Government had by edict much to his surprice been successful in totally suppressing opium smoking, and it was only the present disturbed state of the country which had brought about the recent recrudescence. could maintain that the present deplorable state of China was but temporary, and when ordered Government returned it was to be expected that opium smoking would discontinue.
The younger generation of Chinese looked upon opium smoking in the same way as the abuse of alcohol was viewed in this country. He would point out that the life of the Chinaman now was not what it used to be. There were several alternative methods of recreation open to him. His nights were now not as heretofore spent in the dark he had electric light, and by this could play games gamble, or read. He had innumerable picture palaces to go to. The British should go into this matter with clean hands. It was impossible to face Macao or Indo-China whilst we permitted, and what was more, received revenue from, opium smoking. He did not believe that Chinese opinion would be hostile to prohibition of opium smoking in Hong Kong.
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Sir Malcolm Delevingne enquired what in fact was the value to the Hong Kong Government of the Hong Kong system. The Hong Kong Government admitted that it did not stop smuggling, that as much smuggled opium was being smoked in Hong Kong at the present time as Government opium, and that the revenue derived from it was not
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