8
lies in the ease with which, by reason of its geographical situation, opiumu can be smuggled into the Colony as long as its production and distribution are permitted on the mainland. It has been proved by experience that any material increase in the monopoly's selling rate or decrease in its output is counteracted by a corresponding activity on the part of the illicit traders. Opium is smuggled in from several quarters, even from as far as the Persian Gulf; but the main source of supply is China, where, owing to the large quantities of opium which are being produced, the market price is much lower than the Government price in Hong Kong,
Thousands of persons pass to and fro every day between China and the Colony on foot and by boat, junk, steamer and train, and an essential condition of the suppression of opium smoking in Hong Kong is the effective control by the Chinese Government of the production of opium in China.
Strict preventive measures are taken, but are only very partially successful. Even so, the measures taken to check smuggling have long been a cause of complaint among the Chinese. They object most strongly to the search of person and baggage which takes place on every wharf of arrival and departure in the Colony, and they declaim against the bribery and corruption which in the circumstances are inevitable. It is, unfortunately, the case that no detective measures have very much success unless very large rewards are offered, and these rewards breed a most undesirable spawn of informers. The Chinese will have opium if it can be procured, and, in proportion as the monopoly's product ceases to be available, while outside sources, and especially sources in China, remain open, so will smuggling increase. The establishment of a preventive service capable of effectually stopping the illicit traffic into the Colony is regarded as an impossible task except at a prohibitive cost. Recently, owing to the serious increase of smuggling from China in 1920 and 1921, the penalty of banishment was introduced for persons convicted of complicity in the traffic. This policy appears to be of considerable effect both as a deterrent and in ridding the Colony of members of smuggling gangs. Hong Kong is ready and willing to co-operate in the suppression of the traffic, and it will have no hesitation in accepting any financial sacrifice that may be entailed in making suppression effective. But suppression is impracticable except pari passu with similar measures in the neighbouring territories. Under the present conditions the existing system of control, so far as it goes, is satisfactory; the con- sumption per head of the population is very small, and the abandon- ment of the Government monopoly, so far from effecting any real good, would merely deprive the authorities of their present power to keep the opium habit within bounds.
Straits Settlements. Here also the problem arises only in con- nection with the Chinese population, and has been dealt with on much the same lines as in Hong Kong.
With a view to enabling the Government to maintain a closer control over the use of opium, the system of "farming" was abolished, and the manufacture and sale of prepared opium (or chandu) was made a Government monopoly in 1910. Retail sale is only permitted at
9
licensed shops or licensed public smoking rooms, and is subject to stringent regulations. Prepared opium may not be sold to anyone but an adult male. Though public smoking rooms have not been entirely abolished, the number has been gradually reduced from 503 (in 1909) to 211. Successive increases in the price of chandu have also been made, and the wholesale price, which in 1910 was $3 a tael, is now $12. The effect of these measures was a continuous reduction in the amount of prepared opium sold, and also in the amount consumed per head of the population up to 1917. The decrease from 1911 to 1917 amounted to 35.5 per cent. The years 1918 to 1920, however, have shown an increase which may be due in part to increased wages of labourers, As in the case of Hong Kong, the Government, in pursuing its policy of increasing the price of opium, has to have regard to the danger of smuggling both by sea and from China (Fukien). The two principal settlements, with the two chief ports, are in the fairway of all seaborne traffic between the East and West; there is also a sparsely inhabited seaboard to the other portions of the Colony; there is communication by land with Siam, and the population is to a large extent migratory. It is feared that, if the measures taken are too restrictive, smuggling will be increased and trade in morphine and cocaine, which caused much evil in 1904-10, may be revived.
At the beginning of 1920 an attempt was made to reduce con- sumption by a system of rationing, under which retailers were supplied with only 90 per cent. of their former average purchases. Great dissatisfaction was produced, and by the end of April it was found necessary to abandon the attempt.
Malay States. All supplies of prepared opium are obtained from the Government factory. Singapore, and the general regulations are similar to those in force in the Straits Settlements.
Sale is allowed through licensed persons to Chinese only. Consumption has been reduced (1) by successive increases in the prices charged for chandu throughout Malaya, and (2) in the Federated Malay States by a reduction of the number of licensed shops from over 700 prior to the introduction of the monopoly system to 288 in 1919.
In the Federated Malay States the sales to licensed retailers had decreased by 30 per cent. between 1911 and 1918, although latterly the consumption has remained fairly constant. It is now the policy of the Government to replace the private shops for the sale of chandu for consumption off the premises by Government shops, in order to take the sale of chandu out of the hands of persons financially interested in fostering the trade.
British North Borneo.--With a view to controlling and restricting the consumption of opium in the territory, the trade, which was formerly left to private individuals, has been taken by the Government into its own hands with beneficial results. Consumption of opium is absolutely limited to Chinese. Certain selected traders in each district which Chinese inhabit are licensed to requisition on the central store for an amount proportionate to the number of Chinese male
71
lia
ice
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.