CO129-510-8 Policy on sale of Opium 12-1-1928 - 24-7-1928 — Page 33

32

30049/27

4

$7

despatches to me, dated 14th September and 17th

+

October, 1927).

3.

Before going further I venture to remind

you that I do not come to the examination of the

opium problem in China as a novice, for I attended

the original International opium Conference at

Shanghai in February, 1909, as the Hong Kong delegate,

and both before and since then I have made a special

study of this subject, concerning which I have written

several monographs, for example, aemorandum on an

Examination of the Hong Kong Opium. Farmer's books in

May, 1906; Calculation of the Percentages of

Opium-smokers in China, Sau-ch'uan and Hong Kong;

a Calculation of the greatest possible Consumption

of Korphine by opium-smokers;

Krticle on the Poppy from the Chinese Compendium of Literature

Illustrations, Ancient and modern; a Memorandum

a

an

}

Consumpt

and

on Attempts made by the Canton Government to impose

additional Yaxation on Foreign Opium (lylo). Copies

of all these prints are at the Colonial office.

I much regret, however, that pressure of other

anxieties since my return to Hong Kong has prevented

me from laying my views on this subject before you at

an earlier date, and I am now writing this despatch

with a view to repairing my omission.

i. Since assuming duty as Governor, I have

been profoundly concerned to see the recent rapid

deterioration of the whole opium situation in China.

You will remember that the first resolution passed

7: No. 6. 30040

at the

80049/27[10.87]

2.5

49/27 [NO 74] +No. 6. 80049/27 [No.87]

30049/27070 4