CO129-465 - Public Offices & Others - 1920 — Page 53

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دید

It will be seen therefore, that Jepan has inoressed

her annual importa from an average of 20,000 ounces to

some 6ʊ0,000 os., and that after the International Con--

vention of 1912 which prohibited tne import of the drug

into China.

it will be seen, therefore, that Japan which had

imported in the 10 years 1898 to 1907 some 197,809 ounges

of morphin, us shown in the Strtement presented by tas

Japenese Delegates to the International Upium Commission

at Shanghai in 1901, did not nesitate to show in ner

official Trade Returns for the year 1917 a total importa.

tion of 600,286 ounces of morphis, This amount compared

with the average yeɛrly inportation into Jajan during the

ten years 1898-1907 when then amounted to some 19,786

ounces shows an adyszne in the quantity of mora thần

3,000 per cent.

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This Assoolation has the honor to a, pend a list of

regulations necessary in its opinion for the restricting

of traffic in opium and other drugs to legitimate medieinal

requirements and in conclusion bags that the following

principles and facts may receive consideration.

1. This issociation is of the opinion that the use of

opium and drugs se a souras of revenue is entirely ia-

defensible. In 1917 over 45% of the revenue of the

Straits Settlements was derived from opium and in the

name your one third of the revenue of Hongkong was derived

from the opium monopol/« It will thus be seen that the British population of Hongkong and the straita Settlements ia for its revenue largely parasitio on the vides of ite

native/