CO129-262 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1894 [1-4] — Page 194

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Condemned - as degrading or injurious by all Chinese whom I have heard speak on the subject. Whether Opium mothers or not. Their view of the effects of opium and alcohol is much the same as what I have given under last question in last-grievance which gives rise to painful reflections on the part of patriotic Chinese.

(10) Perhaps one in a hundred opium smokers can and does break off the habit - unaided by doctors or external force.

As the immediate result of the sudden stopping of Indian Opium, we might expect that the Chinese would be seriously alarmed and provoked to riots by those interested, that conceited smokers would be cured of the habit, owing to the scarcity of the drug, that measures would be taken to get a supply of opium from China or elsewhere without delay, and that morphine or some similar narcotic would be used as a substitute, but not alcohol. To further reply to this question, I quote the following remarkable opinion of a wise Chinese friend, who has done much to help the Anti-Opium movement.

(a) The opium habit of China is justly called a disease. It is a chronic and inveterate disease. It cannot be cured in a day by means short of a miracle. To stop suddenly the supply of Indian opium would cause untold misery in Hong Kong.

(b) To the ignorant and suspicious Chinese mind, such an act would present itself as some deep plot of the British Government. Even Chinese statesmen mis-understand or mis-interpret it.

(c) A gradual but marked and consistent diminution of the quantity of opium imported from India, so that it might be absolutely stopped in a few years, would impress the Government and people of China with the benevolent intentions and good faith of England, that the better and wiser Chinese would be stimulated and co-operation on the part of China would be secured. By this, the patriotic feelings of Officials and Gentry would be enlisted.

It is not too much to expect that they...

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Condemned - as degrading or injurious by all Chinese whom I have heard speak on the subject. Whether Opium mothers or not. Their view of the effects of opium and alcohol is much the same as what I have given under last question in last-grievance which gives rise to painful reflections on the part of patriotic Chinese. (10) Perhaps one in a hundred opium smokers can and does break off the habit - unaided by doctors or external force. As the immediate result of the sudden stopping of Indian Opium, we might expect that the Chinese would be seriously alarmed and provoked to riots by those interested, that conceited smokers would be cured of the habit, owing to the scarcity of the drug, that measures would be taken to get a supply of opium from China or elsewhere without delay, and that morphine or some similar narcotic would be used as a substitute, but not alcohol. To further reply to this question, I quote the following remarkable opinion of a wise Chinese friend, who has done much to help the Anti-Opium movement. (a) The opium habit of China is justly called a disease. It is a chronic and inveterate disease. It cannot be cured in a day by means short of a miracle. To stop suddenly the supply of Indian opium would cause untold misery in Hong Kong. (b) To the ignorant and suspicious Chinese mind, such an act would present itself as some deep plot of the British Government. Even Chinese statesmen mis-understand or mis-interpret it. (c) A gradual but marked and consistent diminution of the quantity of opium imported from India, so that it might be absolutely stopped in a few years, would impress the Government and people of China with the benevolent intentions and good faith of England, that the better and wiser Chinese would be stimulated and co-operation on the part of China would be secured. By this, the patriotic feelings of Officials and Gentry would be enlisted. It is not too much to expect that they...
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Condemned - as degrading or injurious by all Chinese whom shave heard speak on the subject. Whether Opini mothers or not. Their view of the effects of opium and alcohol much the sauce as what I have given under last- question in lest-gries nae which gives rice do painful Clyding the last illustration reflections on the part of patriotic Chinese. (10) Parlieps one in a hundred gopium. Imokers can and does break off the habit-unaided by doctors or exterval fo ( As the immediate result- the sudden stopping of Indian Opicine we miglet - Caffect that the Chuise would be serie- alarmed and provotted to riots by those interested, that conce would be cured If the habit, owing So the scarcity of the drug, that measures would be taken to get a Supply of opium from Churia à clse- where without delay and that morphine in sobne for or all simular harcotic would be used as a substitute, but used not-alcohol. Su further reply So this question & quote the following remarkable opiniowe of following remarkable. 192 a wise Chinese friend. Who has Mone much to help the Anti Opium move - (a) The opium Imo. -Meet : of China is justly called a diseaset It is a chronic and inveterate disease. It cannot be cured in a day by meaus short of a miracler He stop suddenly the supply of Indian opium would babese Se mütterable misery in Wong Hong. b) to the norbert and suspicious Clicies mind such au actswould present itself as some deep plot of the Brefish -ment. Even Chidiese statemen mis-understand or mis-interpret 14- (C) A gradual but marked and Consistent dimuation of the quantity of opciune imported from W offar so that it mighet. Ob- Polutely years would so in press the Government- and people of Clieux with the beustic _leut intentions and good faith of England, that the better, Weelding Cousings of those who see the good would be stimu and Co. Operations out the part of Chirica would be the of secured & By this calling fold repatriotic. -lated, of Officcese Eh is not too much to expect that They
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Condemned - as degrading or injurious by all Chinese whom shave heard speak on the subject. Whether Opini mothers or not. Their view of the effects of opium and alcohol much the sauce as what I have given under last- question in

lest-gries nae which gives rice do painful Clyding the last illustration reflections on the part of patriotic Chinese.

(10) Parlieps one in a hundred

gopium. Imokers can and does break off the habit-unaided by doctors or exterval fo

(

As the immediate result- the sudden stopping of Indian Opicine we miglet - Caffect that the Chuise would be serie- alarmed and provotted to riots by those interested, that conce would be cured If the habit, owing So the scarcity of the drug, that measures would be taken to get a

Supply of opium from Churia à clse- where without delay and that morphine in sobne for

or all

simular harcotic would be used as a substitute, but

used not-alcohol. Su further reply So this question & quote the

following

remarkable opiniowe of

following remarkable.

192

a

wise Chinese friend. Who has Mone much to help the Anti Opium move

- (a) The opium Imo.

-Meet :

of China is justly called a diseaset It is a chronic and inveterate disease. It cannot be cured in a day by

meaus short of a miracler He stop suddenly the supply of Indian opium would babese Se mütterable misery in Wong Hong.

b) to the

norbert and suspicious Clicies mind such au actswould present itself as some deep plot of the Brefish -ment. Even Chidiese statemen mis-understand or mis-interpret 14-

(C) A gradual but marked and Consistent dimuation of the quantity of opciune imported from

W offar so that it mighet. Ob- Polutely

years would so in press the Government- and people of Clieux with the beustic _leut intentions and good faith of England, that the better, Weelding Cousings of those who see the good would be stimu and Co. Operations out the part of Chirica would be the of secured & By this calling fold

repatriotic.

-lated,

of Officcese

Eh is not too much to expect that

They

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