CO129-483 - Others & Individuals - 1923 — Page 465

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459

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accepted as certain that smuggling will continue as

long as the production is carried on in Chinato the

present enormous extent, and probably will to a certain

extent be increased. While the preventive service would

be maintained at its present high level of efficiency

and every effort within the powers of the Government

would be made to cope with the evil, I should not consider that the Government of Hong Kong was called upon

to do more than it is at present doing in this respect.

6. I should, therefore, be glad if, in connection

with the enquiry into the recommendations of the Advisory

Committee, you will cause the suggestions and considera-

tions mentioned in the previous paragraphs of this

despatch to be examined with the greatest care.

7. I observe that in paragraph 12 of his report,

the Superintendent of Imports and Exports calls attention

to the difficulty (under the existing opium Ordinance) of

dealing with bulk inports of opium. This point is no

doubt receiving attention in connection with the

overhauling of the Ordinance which I suggested in my

despatch of the 11th of June.

8. As I have indicated in paragraph 5 I fully

realise that in view of the unique geographical situation

and features of HongKong and the conditions at present

prevailing on the mainland of China, it is virtually impossible, by the ordinary preventive measures (however efficient the preventive service may be), to stop

completely the smuggling of opium into the Colony. As

suggested by Mr.Lloyd in paragraph 13 of his report, it

would appear that the only really effective way of dealing with the problem is to supplement the ordinary preventive measures by concentrating special efforts on the

[? (-) (362678) Wt. 0112/36 Gp. 140 60,000 11-22 W & slad

detection

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