than the Mover and Seconder of the Resolution in the House of Commons, have some doubts as to whether the common object we all have in view can best be achieved by the particular methods proposed. I have endeavoured to present a reasoned opinion on this subject and to submit some practical suggestions, without going too largely into the immense field of discussion which this subject opens up; and while doing so I trust I may claim to have vindicated the Colony of Hongkong from the charge of apathy, and of having made no sacrifices to promote the Policy of the Home Government in this matter.
I trust that nothing I have said in this Memo. may lead to the conclusion or inference that I do not recognise the evils of the Opium Habit.
I have quoted on page 11 from the Indian Commission to show that they are often exaggerated, but I learn from Sir A. Hosie that in Szechuan they are deplorable, mainly because the population is very poor, and there is a tendency for heavy smokers to forego their food, and spend their money upon opium instead. He believed (as many experts do) that as long as a man is well nourished opium smoking does him little or no harm, since post mortem examinations have shown that the organs are entirely unaffected. The victim of indulgence really suffers from starvation.
In Hong-kong therefore where wages are high, and employment easy to obtain, the coolie can afford to feed well, and also to pay for his smoke and so little or no harm is done. But even in Hongkong smoking is a great economic evil tending to the waste of time, and of money in unproductive self-indulgence. My sole object so far as the general question is concerned has been to demonstrate :—
(a.) That it must be dealt with gradually and not by precipitate methods.
(b.) And above all that there are other and worse evils which unless foresight and care are exercised may prove worse than smoking.
And in so far as this Colony is concerned I have hoped to show :-
(a.) That we have not been idle and apathetic in the aspects of the question which seemed to us of paramount importance.
(b.) That owing to the control exercised and to the local conditions of the population, the evil here assumes a very different aspect from what it does in some parts of China.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
October 18th, 1908.
Revised: February 25th, 1909.
F. D. LUGARD.
MINUTE.
187
[8H 13/5
Mr. Fiddes 13
Mr. Just.
Mr. Antrobus.
Mr. Cox. 3
Sir C. Lucas.
17.
Si
13927.
HK.
340
18 May 1909
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your confidential despatch of the 15th March 13122 dealing with the publication of recent papers on Opium by Sir F. Hopwood, Col. Seely, and The Earl of Crewe.
Copy of Print with 12862, "be got from F.O."
2.
The outcome of the Shanghai Conference has somewhat vindicated our position and I appreciate the motives which led you to suggest the publication of a despatch. You expressed in the 2nd & 3rd paragraphs that there is no necessity to publish the correspondence in extenso and that we should wait for a semi-official statement / summary.
16
than the Mover and Seconder of the Resolution in the House of Commons, have some doubts as to whether the common object we all have in view can best be achieved by the particular methods proposed. I have endeavoured to present a reasoned opinion on this subject and to submit some practical suggestions, with out going too largely into the immense field of discussion which this subject opens up; and while doing so I trust I may claim to have vindicated the Colony of Hongkong from the charge of apathy, and of having made no sacrifices to promote the Policy of the Home Government in this matter.
I trust that nothing I have said in this Memo. may lead to the conclusion or inference that I do not recognise the evils of the Opium Habit.
I have quoted on page 11 from the Indian Commission to shew that they are often exaggerated, but I learn from Sir A. Hosie that in Szechuan they are deplorable, mainly because the population is very poor, and there is a tendency for heavy smokers to forego their food, and spend their money upon opium instead. He believed (as many experts do) that as long as a man is well nourished opium smoking does him little or no harm, since post mortem examinations have shewn that the organs are entirely unaffected. The victim of indulgence really suffers from starvation.
In Hong- kong therefore where wages are high, and employment easy to obtain, the coolie can afford to feed well, and also to pay for his smoke and so little or no harm is done. But even in Hongkong smoking is a great economic evil tending to the waste of time, and of money in unproductive self-indulgence. My sole object so far as the general question is concerned has been to demonstrate :—
(a.) That it must be dealt with gradually and not by precipitate
methods.
(b.) And above all that there are other and worse evils which unless
foresight and care are exercised may prove worse than smoking.
And in so far as this Colony is concerned I have hoped to shew :-
(a.) That we have not been idle and apathetic in the aspects of the
tion which seemed to us of paramount importance.
ques-
(6.) That owing to the control exercised and to the local conditions of the population, the evil here assumes a very different aspect from what it does in some parts of China.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
October 18th, 1908.
Revised: February 25th, 1909.
F. D. LUGARD.
2dff's
C
Ind
H.K. Conf.
DRAFT.
Gost Six Flugand
Mr.
MINUTE.
187
[8H 13/5
Mr. Fiddes 13
Mr. Just.
Mr. Antrobus.
Mr. Cox. 3
Sir C. Lucas.
17.
Si
13927.
HK.
340
18 May 1909
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}
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