A
the Leased Territory it is dilakuka
formation.
Jotain any definite Z
203
Enquiries addressed to the authorities concerned
have only elicited figures exactly corresponding to the import figures given by the Chinese Customs, and it is therefore impos- sible to make any exact statenent in regard to this point.
In
this connection, however, the following figures showing the number of licensed dealers (retailers) and smokers may be of
interest:
No. of retailers.
No of smokers.
1614
98
2,706
1915
lo 8
2,713
1316
118
2,779
1917
118
2,725
From the above it appears that the number of smokers has
varied to any great extent during the last few years, and this
fact coupled with the decrease in imports seems to show that, officially at least, opium smoking is not on the increase in
the Leased Territory. The decrease in importa is explained
by the authorities concerned as being due to the increasing
difficulty of shipping from the country of production and to
the fact that the quantity of opium of Siberian origin smuggled
into the Leased Territory is said to have increased of recent
years an illicit trade, which it is naturally extremely di.
cult for the authorities to suppress.
-
With reference to the second paragraph of the deapa toh
from the Governor of the Straite Settlements I may add that
the opium monopoly in this Territory is still in the hands of
the Kosai Zando, the Chinese pseudo-philanthropic association
to which it was entrusted by the authorities at the beginning
7
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