= E 6 =
The menace of heroin however is not confined to Hong Kong for China has found opium supplanted by the new trade to such extent that drastic penalties have been imposed against smugglers and dealers.
Heroin Pill Divans.
Last year's report stated that indiscriminate smoking was not the rule and opium divans were still easily in the majority. The position has now been reversed for opium and heroin are smoked indiscriminately and heroin divans which keep an opium pipe or two, are now in the majority. Divans have increased immensely in size, and whereas formerly it was the custom to find four or five pipes, it is not uncommon now to find twelve to fourteen pipes. Although divans are sometimes furnished with European beds, the old-style bed-board is still popular as ever. The clientele, however, with the increasing popularity of heroin has become less select, and manufacturers sometimes impose on lower class divans by selling pills which often contain no heroin at all. It is noticeable moreover that there is always a fair sprinkling of women among the smokers. It is the usual custom of the divans to keep a very small supply of pills on hand, normally about 100 or 200, which ensures that when arrested, the penalty will be small. Fresh supplies are easily obtainable, for there is always a distributing centre within easy range.
VI.-OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS.
There were no seizures of crude morphia or morphine pills for the year, nor was there any evidence of such imports into the Colony.
VII.-REVENUE STATION AT FAN LING.
Satisfactory results have been obtained by the Revenue party stationed at Fan Ling for the year, and the numbers of seizures and arrests have been well maintained. Smuggling operations on the frontier however are still extensive, for most commodities are dutiable in China and the smuggler usually carries wine or tobacco on his return journey to British territory. The presence of Revenue Officers on the trains and at the stations has also had a salutary effect, although it is evident from seizures in Kowloon, that opium and tobacco still find a way in by rail.
VIII.-LEGISLATION.
Under the Importation and Exportation Ordinance, 1915, the Government prohibited as from 15th June, 1935, the export from the Colony to any country or place other than China of
= E 6 =
The menace of heroin however is not confined to Hong Kong for China has found opium supplanted by the new trade to such extent that drastic penalties have been imposed against smugglers and dealers.
Heroin Pill Divans.
as
Last year's report stated that indiscriminate smoking was not the rule and opium divans were still easily in the majority. The position has now been reversed for opium and heroin are smoked indiscriminately and heroin divans which keep an opium pipe or two, are now in the majority. Divans have increased immensely in size, and whereas formerly it was the custom to find four or five pipes, it is not uncommon now to find twelve to fourteen pipes. Although divans are sometimes furnished with European beds, the old-style bed-board is still popular as ever. The clientele, however, with the increasing popularity of heroin has become less select, and manufacturers sometimes impose on lower class divans by selling pills which often contain no heroin at all. It is noticeable moreover that there is always a fair sprinkling of women among the smokers. It is the usual custom of the divans to keep a very small supplý of pills on hand, normally about 100 or 200, which ensures that when arrested, the penalty will be small. Fresh supplies are easily obtainable, for there is always a distributing centre within easy range.
VI.-OTHER DANGEROUS Drugs.
There were no seizures of crude morphia or morphine pills for the year, nor was there any evidence of such imports into the Colony.
VII.-REVENUE STATION AT FAN LING.
Satisfactory results have been obtained by the Revenue party stationed at Fan Ling for the year, and the numbers of seizures and arrests have been well maintained. Smuggling operations on the frontier however are still extensive, for most commodities are dutiable in China and the smuggler usually carries wine or tobacco on his return journey to British territory. The presence of Revenue Officers on the trains and at the stations has also had a salutary effect, although it is evident from seizures in Kowloon, that opium and tobacco still find a way in by rail.
VIII.-LEGISLATION.
Under the Importation and Exportation Ordinance, 1915, the Government prohibited as from 15th June, 1935, the export from the Colony to any country or place other than China of
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