CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9] — Page 295

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Enclosure 2.

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IREC

31587

293

Rra 29 SEP 11

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS.

Hongkong... 4th. September

191

Report on Ordinance No..

39

of 191) .

I have examined the accompanying Ordinance, entitled

"An Ordinance to further amend the Opium Ordi-

nance, 1909."

and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to the Governor's Instructions.

Since the new agreement regarding the importation of opium into China limits the importation to chests bearing a certificate t

that they have been sold in India for the China market, there is no longer any legitimate market for uncertified opium exported from Hong Kong. The opium dealers fear lest imports of uncertified opium should be made into this Colony with a view to smuggling into China thereby interfering with the legitimate and much restricted trade in certified chests. This Ordinance has, therefore, been introduced to meet the new circumstances. Opium required by the Opium Farmer ca be imported under permit and opium in transit under a through Bill of Lading is not interferred with.

When the Ordinance was introduced into the Legislative Council sub-section (1) of section 3 read thus: "no person shall

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