CO129-391 - Acting Governor Claud Severn Governor Sir May - 1912 [7-8] — Page 382

Memorandum on opium in Hongkong in view of the

C.373

57

Hague Conference.

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18 SEP 12

RAW OPIUM.

1.

The agreement between Great Britain and China, by which the import of opium into China is confined to Indian opium certified for the China market, makes it necessary to

improve the control on the movements of raw opium within the

Colony. At present any person can move raw opium to any place

he likes so long as he obtains a permit and the Superintendent

has no power to refuse a permit. The result is that besides the

more or less regular stocks of opium in the larger godowns there

are a large number of Chinese firms each of whom have 2 or 3

chests in their shops. It is impossible to keep a proper check

on such stocks and irregularities occur from time to time such

as coal substituted for opium, bogus applications for export,

etc.

2.

The import of uncertified Indian opium into Hong

Kong was forbidden by Ordinance No.39 of 1911, but there is

still a small stock left in the Colony. Persian opium has not

yet been prohibited; it has a legitimate market outside China

and if steps are taken to improve the control I think that

smuggling into China of Persian opium openly imported into Hong

Kong can be almost entirely prevented. The steps I would recom-

mend for this purpose are modelled on the procedure adopted in

the case of intoxicating liquors:-

(1). The formation of general and licensed warehouses

for the storage of raw opium.

(2). Raw opium other than opium certified for the

China Market to be stored only in such general or licensed

warehouse.

(3). The Superintendent to have power to demand the

production of certificate before allowing certified opium

to