CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 23

7400

REC REG 16 B22

HOME OFIC

20

WHITCHAI

15th February, 1922.

My dear Grindle,

I think we may have some difficulty at the approaching

meeting of the Opium Advisory Committee of the League of Nations in

connection with Question 11 in the Questionnaire which was issued last

year. That question asks, with reference to places where the

Government has not yet entirely suppressed the manufacture of, trade

in or use of prepared opium, by what date the Government proposes to

complete the suppression. The question has reference to Article 6

of the International Opium Convention 1912, by which the Contracting

Powers undertake to take measures for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture of, internal trade in, and use of prepared opium, with due regard to the varying circumstances of each

country concerned.

Hong Kong, in its reply to the question, says:-

"The Government of Hongkong cannot fix any date for discontinuing the sale of prepared opium since, while opium is still largely grown in China, cessation of the sale of Government prepared opium would not reduce the consumption of opium in the Colony. The physical formation of the Colony makes it impossible to prevent muggling from China, and the incentives to smuggling would be enormously increased if no legitimate supplies of opium were available for consumers. attempt at suppression before China has ceased to grow opium would in all probability result in an increase rather than a reduction of consumption."

British North Borneo replies:-

"The consumption of opium is entirely confined to the Chinese who are practically rationed at a very moderate rate of consumption. The Court are not prepared to deprive them of this as doing so would lead to disorder, discontent, and 111-health."

Any

These replies seem to indicate that the Local Governments

Sir G. Grindle, K.C.M.G., C.B.,

concerned/

dia

fice

PILS.