CO129-483 - Others & Individuals - 1923 — Page 459

453

the the Second Sub-paragraph of paragraph 6 of the

enclosure to 47043.

The Superintendent of Imports and Exports appears

to have hit the nail on the head when he says that "until

we can devise means to get at the capitalists who are

behind the trade, we shall never control the traffic".

Sir Malcolm Delevingne has repeatedly urged the same

view. It was for this reason that in June the Governor

was asked (10906) to pass, as soon as possible, an Ordinance

on the lines of the Dangerous Drugs Amandment Act 1923.

For more than two years the HongKong Government has been

intending to replace the local "Pharmacy and Poisons

Ordinance" by an Ordinance on the lines of the Dangerous

Drugs Act 1920. Their law officers have however been

prevented from tackling it by pressure of work, and it was

not considered urgent as the existing Ordinance is quite

stringent. They are presumably now engaged on this work.

Amongst other things the Amending Act provides that "Any person who in Great Britain aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission in any place outside Great

Britain of any offence punishable under the provisions of

any corresponding law in force in that place, or does any act preparatory to, or in furtherance of, any act which

if committed in Great Britain would constitute an offence

against this Act;

shall be guilty of an offence against this Act".

and it gives drastic powers of search and examination of the books and papers etc. of any one suspected of any

such transaction.

Then the new Ordinance is passed the HongKong Government will have similar powers and will be in a position to deal with persons who use Hong Kong as headquarters for illicit

operations elsewhere.

(867578) Wt. 20119/

Whether

!

}