CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 747

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The nature of the opium smokers' occupation conduces frequently to his becoming a confirmed smoker, and, from this point of view, the following figures may be of interest :-

Independent occupation
Trade and commerce
No fixed occupation
Mechanics and artisans
Miscellaneous
Farmers and peasants
Occupation,

Percentage of Smokers
engaged in
these Occupations.
Per cent.
9.8
9.4
9.2
8.7
5.8
2.2

The heaviest smokers, and the most numerous, are those of the moneyed and leisured classes. They are generally found in the cities where, being comparatively free agents, continual intercourse with each other conduces to indolence and indulgence in the drug. The same may be said to apply to artisans who can get very high wages, and who take a great deal of leisure in the day. Means of smoking are ever at hand, and the daily smoker encourages the more moderate ones.

As regards farmers and peasants, those who become victims of the vice generally move into the towns where they can indulge more freely, and adopt a new occupation. This, of course, decreases the percentage for the country districts, whilst increasing that for the towns. Nevertheless, the country people appear to be less addicted to the opium vice than the city folk, and one reason assigned for this is that they consume more alcohol.

A Table is appended to this Report, showing the quantity and value of raw opium imported, and opium paste sold during the eight years from 1900 to 1907, also the number of licensed smokers. (Annex 2.)

Tamsui, October 13, 1908.

(Translation.)

Annex 1.

FORMOSA OPIUM LAW.

Ordinance No. 2 of January 1897.

(Embodying Amendments in 1898 and 1902.)

ARTICLE 1. In this Ordinance the word opium shall include raw opium, opium paste, and opium powder.

Art. 2. Opium paste and opium powder shall be sold only by Government.

It shall be unlawful to import, manufacture, or without special permission to sell, receive, or be in possession of any compound containing opium as an ingredient for the purpose of producing the same effect as opium or opium paste.

Art. 3. Licences granting permission to buy and to smoke opium paste shall be given only to those who shall be deemed to be confirmed opium smokers.

Art. 4. The following occupations shall be specially permitted and licences granted

1. The sale of opium paste.

2. The manufacture and sale of opium smoking implements.

3. The retail sale of opium smoking implements.

4. To establish opium smoking divans.

5. The wholesale of opium powder. (To chemists and druggists only.)

Art. 5. Physicians, chemists, retail druggists and manufacturing chemists may, even without licence, own, be in possession of, sell, buy, and receive opium powder.

Art. 6. Persons licensed under Articles 3 and 4 shall pay a licence fee and the Formosan Government shall fix the amount of the fee by notification.

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Art. 7. Persons licensed to buy and smoke opium paste, and persons licensed to establish opium smoking divans may buy and own opium smoking implements.

Art. 8. Any person importing or manufacturing opium paste, or any person selling, delivering, exchanging or lending opium paste so imported or manufactured shall be liable to major imprisonment, for not more than five years, or a fine of not more than 5,000 yen.

Any person who shall mix the various kinds of paste sold by the Government, or shall mix with it any other substance, or who shall sell, deliver, exchange or lend any such mixture shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than three years, or a fine of not more than 3,000 yen.

Any person owning, being in possession of, or smoking opium paste mentioned in this Article shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than 1,000 yen.

Any person who, without licence mentioned in section 1 of Article 4, or without express authority, shall sell, deliver, exchange or lend opium paste, or who even with the licence required by section 1 of Article 4, shall sell, deliver, exchange or lend opium paste to any person not holding a licence to buy and smoke opium, or any person who, having special authority to sell opium paste who shall sell, deliver, exchange or lend opium paste to a person not holding a licence to buy and smoke opium shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than four years or a fine of not more than 4,000 yen.

Art. 9. Any person importing or preparing any drug having the same effect as raw opium, opium powder or paste shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than four years, or a fine of not more than 4,000 yen.

1. Any person who shall sell, deliver, exchange or lend any drug having the same effect as raw opium or opium paste, and any person, not being a physician, chemist, selling druggist or drug manufacturer, who, without having obtained the licence required by No. 5 of Article 4, shall sell, deliver, exchange or lend opium powder shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not more than 3,000 yen.

2. The punishment of any person who shall attempt to manufacture or import any drug having the effect of opium or opium paste, but who has not succeeded, shall be reduced by one or two degrees.

3. Any person who uses morphine or any drug containing morphine as a substitute for opium smoking shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than 1,000 yen.

Art. 10. Any person found in possession of any still or furnace for the purpose of preparing opium shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of not more than 2,000 yen.

Art. 11. Any person who imports opium-smoking implements or who without the licence required by Article 4, section 2, manufactures opium-smoking implements shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not more than 3,000 yen.

Any person who, without the licence required by sections 2 and 3 of Article 4, shall sell, deliver, exchange, or lend, and any person who, having such licence, shall sell, deliver, exchange, or lend opium-smoking implements to persons not holding licences to buy and smoke opium, or to establish an opium smoking-divan, shall be liable to major imprisonment for not more than two years or a fine of not more than 2,000 yen.

Art. 12. If a Customs officer makes or permits the importations referred to in Articles 8, 9, and 11, each offence is increased by one degree.

Art. 13. A person who, without the licence required by section 4 of Article 4, supplies opium-smoking accommodation or implements is liable to major imprisonment for not more than four years or of a fine of not more than 4,000 yen.

Any person who, though holding a licence as required by the said section, shall supply accommodation or implements to a person not licensed to buy and smoke opium paste shall be liable to the same penalties.

Under the circumstances named in the preceding two paragraphs, if the offence was not committed for trade profit, it shall be diminished by one degree.

Art. 14. Any person who smokes opium without having obtained the licence required by Article 3 is liable to major imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not more than 3,000 yen.

Any person who shall persuade and cause another person, who has not obtained a licence as required by Article 3 to smoke opium, shall be liable to the same penalties increased one degree.

Art. 15. Except those who sell opium paste by official authority, any person who