CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12] — Page 99

exprend by Th. Sevan.

already expresent by

I submit dift. for

The

question of

duped of Opin Dra

has receuth been receiving attention in the S.

Setter:

sa 61832! Shaits below. It might

be well to ? write to obe. S. Satte.

الله

d.h.

£32.

9.12.19.

AEC

10.12

5.811.12.15

ardice

1

C

68695

87

N°

337

Rece

2019

68991

34064

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 15th October, 1919.

My Lord,

With reference to Despatch No. 308 of the

25th September addressed to Your Lordship by the Officer Administering the Government, I have the honour to state that it has come to my notice that Mr. Severn, in describing the restrictive measures already imposed in Hongkong in connection with propared opium, has omitted to mention the action which has been taken to control the smoking of drosa opium. As the subject falls within the purview of section 3 of your Despatch No. 381 of the 31st July, a brief report may be of interest. Dross opium is prepared from opium dross

2.

•

and tau tsing ko, with sometimes a third constituent known as ha lan. Opium dross is the residue from the smoking of prepared opium, and ha lan is the residue from the smoking of dross opium. Tau tsing ko is the refuse from the boiling of prepared opium. It is generally recognised that the smoking of dross opium is more deleterious than the smoking of prepared opium, and steps have accordingly been taken to restrict its con- -sumption as far as possible.

3.

There has always been a steady demand for dross opium and it has been found necessary, in order to keep the smoking of it under control, for the Government to buy up its ingredients at a price which will leave no inducement for its secret proparation and sale, whether for consumption in

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

&c

the