CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 64

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63

This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government. ()

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are required to submit the same for the inspection and approval of one of the Govern ment doctors attached to the "Kuan I Chû" or Government Hospital, of whom the best known is a certain Dr, Tso Chi Fan. Many shops exhibit a placard notifying the public that their anti-opium drugs have been "officially examined and approved," and one very popular pill called "Chu Ying Lan" is sold in bottles inclosed in a green wrapper bearing the words "officially examined and certified not to contain morphia."

I am forwarding by parcel post a sample bottle of these pills for your Excellency's inspection, together with samples of other pills purchased at various shops in the city.

I venture to suggest that the Government Analyst should be asked to examine these samples with a view to ascertaining what amount of morphia or opium ash, if any, enters into their composition.

I have, &c. (Signed)

HARRY H. FOX.

CHINA TRADE,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[45558]

No. 1.

1545

[December 31,]

00

SECTION 1,

Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received December 31.)

(No. 547.) Six,

Peking, December 8, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch No. 540 of the 3rd instant, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a further despatch from the Acting Consul-General at Canton, stating that in the outlying prefectures of the province the new Regulations concerning the registration of raw opium shops are being enforced with some severity, instead of being a dead letter as at Canton.

I have approved the terms of Mr. Fox's note to the Viceroy, and have instructed him to continue to press for unformity of procedure in this matter.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.

(No. 147.) Sir,

Inclosure 3 in No. 1.

Governor Sir F, Lugard to Acting Consul-General Fox.

Government House, Hong Kong, November 19, 1908. IN reply to your despatch of the 2nd instant, I have the honour to inclose six reports by the Government Analyst dated the 16th instant, and to inform you that it has been ascertained that all the pills forwarded by you contain opium or morphia.

If these pills are really sold under official sanction as anti-opium remedies, the Chinese Government is merely substituting one form of the opium habit for another-ą very serious fraud considering the financial issues at stake.

Ave

1 should be glad to know in what manner the "Knan I Chu" analyze these and similar pills, and whether they are sold under the sanction of the Provincial Government.

I have, &c.

(Signed) F. D. LUGARD."

(No. 66.) Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 1.

Acting Consul-General Fox to Sir J. Jordan.

Canton, November 24, 1908. IN continuation of my despatch No. 63 of the 16th instant, I have the honour to inclose copies of two letters received from Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co., and other opiam merchants in Hong Kong, from which it would appear that while in the Canton Prefecture the registration of raw opium shops is not being proceeded with, in some of the outlying prefectures the new Regulations are being enforced with some severity.

Bearing in mind your instructions as to the attitude I should adopt on this question, I have not deemed it advisable to make any very strong protest on the Hong Kong merchants' behalf, or to call upon the Viceroy to issue his promised Proclamation on the subject. I have confined myself to calling his Excellency's attention to the fact that the new Licensing Regulations, as applied in the Waichow and Swatow Prefectures by the local officials are seriously interfering with the raw opium trade of Hong Kong, and I have requested the Viceroy, in view of the assurances contained in his correspondence with me on this subject, to instruct the authorities concerned to desist from placing restrictions on the wholesale raw opium trade.

I have the honour to forward copy and translation of my despatch, to which I have so far received no reply, trusting the language I have held to the Viceroy may meet with

your approval.

J

I have, &c. (Signed)

HARRY H. FOX.

Sir,

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

Messrs. D. Sassoon and Co. and others to Acting Consul General Fox,

Hong Kong, November 17, 1908. WE have the honour to confirm our telegram of this afternoon, reading as follows:--

"Fox, British Consul, Canton.

Referring opium correspondence. Inasmuch as restrictions Canton Prefecture have been withdrawn, have reliable information obnoxious Regulations now being enforced, and prosecutions confiscations taking place Prefecture Chui Chow Wui Chow. Respectfully urge you forthwith make representations Viceroy, obtain withdrawal restric- tions according promise throughout whole Kwong Tung Province. Meanwhile, trade seriously disorganized.-SASSOON,”

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