CO129-483 - Others & Individuals - 1923 — Page 318

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Towards the end of the year, the 3ơng Kong Goverment estimated that

on the basis of consumption in 1922, the Colony's requirements for 1925 would be 26 cbeats per month, but pointed out that in addition to the Suported opium,

much of the opium seized was used by the Government monopoly. But for this,

it would be necessary to Increase the amount to be imported from India up to 26-52 chests per month; and the Goverzet omot depend on seizures contining

on the same sen10.

It is hardly neossary to dwell upon the necessity of bearing in mind the

following consideration® ;—

1. The desirability of as great a proportion as possible of the consumption

of opium in the Colomy being subject to Goverment centrol.

2. The desirability of ansouraging the use of Government chandu which is

of a far superior quality.

3. The high percentage of adult Chinese sales in the community constituting about 50% of the total chin se population, as these are the principal cÓNARMOTE, Where this percentage is high the consumption of oμÂm per head of the Chiness p pulation may also be expected to be high.

ina recrudescenes of oyim growing in China mà the abundant supplies of Chiume spin obtainièle in the neighbouring provinces which have intimate intercourse with the Colony, oosting in the prepared state tion/$7.00 per tsel while Hong Kong opium costs $14.50 per tael, making it impossible for even the most stringent preventive measures to eliminate a large illicit conswy, tion.

5. The virtual impossibility of completely preventing anggling inte Hong Kong owing to its geographical position and the consequent case with which the stuff can be muggled in, in small quantities, on the innumerable jurks

which use the port.

6. That so long as opiɩm can be obtairs from any source, there will be a demend for it, and if Goverment applies are restricted, the consumers will fall back on the muggled article. The price of this will go up to an extent that will make muggling so profitable that the proventive service will be unable to cope with it. The result being that more oğlum than ever will be smoked and the position will be worse than before; the orly people to profit

being the anglers,

7. That the figures of seimres prove that there us practically no muggling at Hong Kong Government (handu yut of the Colony; the bulk of the km selgod being Chinese from Moy clear evidenos of the existence of an unsatisfied demand in the Colony.

The figures given is the engloære bring out very clearly the increasing

The detailed figures of success of the Government premative mezmures) seizures are noteworthy for the large mumber of seisures of sumil quantities of illicit opium; resulting from the intensive campaign against divane.

Alse the figuras of consumption which showed a steady decline from 1918 to 1921, and rise in 1922, support the view that mere mokers are again turning te Government chandu as a result of the int naive preventive campaign.

The/