CO129-591-8 Policy directives 10-3-1944 - 17-8-1944 — Page 111

HONG KONG

CIVIL AFFAIRS POLICY DIRECTIVES

OPIUM

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54132

Curmud

First Draft

/4/44

14

In view of the statement of policy made by his Majesty's

Government on 10th November, 1943, (copy annexed) announcing the

total prohibition of opium smoking in British and British protected

territories, it will be necessary at an early date to repeal the

consolidating Opium Ordinance (No. 7 of 1932) and subsequent

amendments, and simultaneously to take the requisite legislative steps.

to bring raw and prepared opium within the scope of the Dangerous Drugs

Ordinance (No. 31 of 1932).

2. Thereafter it will be the duty of the Police Force, and of

any special preventive staff which it may be necessary to employ, to

take steps to deal with opium-smoking on the same lines as were

adopted in the years preceding 1941 to eradicate certain other habit-

forming drugs, in particular heroin.

3.

Funds for this purpose will have to be provided as they were

for the anti-heroin campaign before the war.

It will be desirable to start a popular movement against

opium-smoking based on an appeal against racial degradation, and

this should be backed by encouragement among the Chinese youths of the Colony of outdoor sport of all descriptions such as had become such a

feature of local life in the years shortly before 1941.

5.

It will probably be necessary to arrange in due course with

g suitable authorities in Kuantung for the treatment and restitution of opium addicts on a payment basis (for genuine residents) similar to that employed in the case of lepers and lunatics.

Copies to:-

Mr. N.L. Smith. (2) Mr. G.M.J. Gent

Mr. J.J. Paskin Mr. W.B.L. Monson Mr. G.S. Wodeman.