CO129-591-9 Policy directives 15-1-1945 - 15-1-1945 — Page 37

HONG KONG

VIVIL AFFAIRS POLICY DIRECTIVES

OPIUM

37

In view of the statement of policy made by His Majesty'e Goverment on 10th November, 1945, (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 1988) 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 1982).

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 tale 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. Punds for this purpose will have to be provided as they

were for the anti-heroin campaign before the war.

星の

:

It will be desirable to start a popular movement against

opiwn-smoking based on an appeal against raċial 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 suitable authorities in Kuangtung 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.

Colonial Office,

8th October, 1945.

--- ---