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    {
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910",
        "page_number": 54,
        "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910",
        "content_text": "with or without permits, but since then steps have been taken by the new Governor Sun to get the matter in hand. Illicit traffic in Kansu opium was still carried on in Chinan, but successful police raids had been made to stop the traffic in Wei-hsien and I-tu-hsien (Ching-chou-fu), His Majesty's consul states finally that the absolute prohibition against opium smoking by teachers and students has of late been much disregarded, chiefly owing to the apathy of sundry district magistrates.\n\nHis Majesty's acting consul at Pakhoi reports a decrease of 22.17 cwts. in the import of Indian opium as compared with the December quarter of the previous year, and a nil return of native opium in the customs returns as compared with 18.47 cwt. in the same period of 1908, making a total reduction of 40.64 cwt. of opium imported in the last quarter of 1908. This is in itself satisfactory, but Mr. Pearson points out that merchants from Yunnan and Kueichow provinces, who in former years depended on their opium for buying foreign goods, have been hard hit by the new conditions, and the imports of foreign piece goods have suffered a proportionate decline. He further states that the licence system has at length become operative in Pakhoi, the licence being posted to a large piece of board which it is hoped will act as a deterrent owing to the difficulty of concealing it when going to purchase the drug. According to the local press, the Ch'in Lien taotai has submitted to the Viceroy a proposal for the branding of smokers, and it has been forwarded by the Viceroy to the Opium Suppression Office, who have been instructed to draw up a report on the advisability of its adoption.\n\nFrom His Majesty's acting consul at Kiungchow I received a report that a practical opium monopoly had been granted to a private opium farm in Hainan, and that a launch was being used to search junks, cargo boats, &c., with the apparent authorisation of the authorities. Regulations had been issued by the Taotai ordering the Customs to seize all opium not directly consigned to the company. On His Majesty's acting consul's representations these regulations were withdrawn, the status of the farm was altered to that of an official instead of a private concern, and new regulations were issued.\n\nI have received no recent reports from other provinces, and it is perhaps unfortunate that no reliable information is to be had as to the state of opium cultivation in Kansu and Shensi, where little progress had been made last year, and where large areas have formerly been devoted to poppy cultivation. I will not fail to report any further information I may receive in regard to the progress of the movement.\n\nIn general I think it is remarkable that so much has been effected towards the suppression of opium cultivation, especially in Szechuan, and there is no doubt that the rising price places the drug out of the reach of a steadily increasing number of people, though those who have the means to lay in a stock will doubtless continue to smoke in secret, and others to consume adulterated opium in the form of \"anti-opium pills.\"\n\nI have, &c.\n\nEnclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER.\n\nActing Consul Smith to Sir J. Jordan,\n\n(No. 11.) Sir,\n\nChungking, February 28, 1910.\n\nI HAVE the honour to transmit herewith a report on opium eradication in this district (Eastern Szechuan) for the 1909-1910 season.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nJ. L. SMITH.\n\nReport on Opium Eradication in Ch'uantung (Eastern Szechuan) for the 1909-10 Season.\n\nReduction of Area under Cultivation.\n\nAS will be remembered a Viceregal proclamation was issued in August of last year prohibiting the planting of any poppy whatever throughout the entire Province of Szechuan during the ensuing season. In this part of China opium is a winter crop being sown in the autumn and harvested in the spring. During January, when the plants would be high enough to be easily distinguishable, I addressed letters of enquiry to missionaries in various parts of Eastern Szechuan in order to ascertain the extent to which effect was being given to the prohibition, and to obtain general information in regard to the progress of the anti-opium movement. While no doubt is cast upon the information given, I may mention that, in the majority of cases, it has been corroborated by Roman Catholic missionaries as well. No foreigners being resident at Fuchou or Shihchuting, the information in regard to those places has perforce been obtained from Chinese in charge of branch mission stations, and is not therefore so reliable.\n\nWhere it has seemed desirable, a digest of the replies received is given after the remarks made under the several headings of this report.\n\nThese give particulars from seventeen districts which include the largest opium producing centres in Eastern Szechuan, and seem to show that, with the sole exception of Fouchou, a vigorous and successful effort is being made to comply with the prohibition in every place.\n\nIn a number of cases tentative efforts were made at the commencement of the season to sow, more especially in out-of-the-way parts of the different districts, but early and strenuous steps seem to have been taken by the authorities to thwart these. The result is that in fifteen out of the seventeen districts mentioned there is practically no opium-growing now.\n\nThe only place where flagrant disobedience has been shown is Fouchou, one of the largest opium-producing centres in the province, and having a big population which may possibly approach a million. Here officials, gentry, and merchants have for years been making fortunes out of the drug, the cultivation of which has been the chief occupation of the people. The prohibition does not appear to have been taken very seriously at the outset, and cultivation was encouraged by the lenience shown by the officials to the first culprits brought to their notice. The consequence of this was that 50 per cent., and this may possibly be a low estimate, more poppy was sown than in the previous season (1908-9). (In Mr. Sly's Report of the 27th September, 1909, it is stated that the area under poppy cultivation in Fouchou during the 1908-9 season was six times as great as during the 1907-8 season).\n\nPusillanimity in the face of a large population with whom the measure was necessarily unpopular, coupled no doubt with a desire to profit possibly for the last time out of the people's disobedience, prevented the authorities from taking any effective steps. Finally the matter reached the ears of the Viceroy, who dispatched the Taotai of Chungking to Fouchou early in January. The latter found the reports true, and took bonds from the local gentry and landowners promising to root up all poppy within ten days. He tells me himself that this promise has been properly carried out.\n\nNo missionary lives at Fouchou, nor has the interior of the district been traversed by any foreigner recently, so that reliable information on the subject is somewhat difficult to obtain.\n\nThe Taotai's visit was already too late in the season to admit of other crops being planted if the poppy were rooted up, and the area under cultivation was so large that trouble was feared in the event of too drastic measures being taken. It is generally believed that a tacit arrangement was therefore made by which all poppy in the neighbourhood of the city, along the River Yang-tze and the high roads, should be pulled up, but that the rest was to be allowed to remain \"for the last time.\"\n\nThe first part of the arrangement seems from all accounts to have been carried out and, as the Taotai's statement to me may possibly be somewhat prejudiced, no doubt the latter has also.\n\nThe only other reply which gives an unsatisfactory answer is from Fengtu, where one tenth of the previous season's crop is said to have been grown. In this place, however, the 1908-9 crop was 50 per cent. less than that of 1907-8, and disobedience on this occasion was no doubt encouraged owing to the proximity of the district to Fouchou.\n\nA prominent member of the local Roman Catholic mission, which owns a large amount of property in the country districts, and is therefore probably in closer touch with the agricultural population than others, estimates that the total area under poppy cultivation in the whole of Eastern Szechuan, taking into consideration the amount grown at Fouchou, this year is at the very most not more than 20 per cent. of what it was last season.\n\nPage 52",
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    {
        "id": 428714,
        "series_id": 27,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine",
        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910",
        "page_number": 55,
        "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910",
        "content_text": "E\n\n6\n\nThe replies received to the question \"How far is the prohibition being carried out in the districts under your notice?\" are given below. To facilitate comparison the conditions prevailing in the 1908-9 season as stated by Mr. Sly in his report of the 27th September, 1909, are given in brackets.\n\nHsuting. The prohibition of the cultivation of opium has been practically insisted on throughout my district. Only unseen places away from public notice have been sown with opium, and I believe in exceedingly small quantities. These remarks include Tunghsiang, where I have recently been, and Taiping, recently visited by my colleague.\n\nTunghsiang- The area under poppy cultivation last season, i.e., 1908-9, was about the same as the previous years.\n\nKaihsien.--The order has been carried out. In some out-of-the-way places the prohibition was disobeyed, but the official insisted on the seed being dug up and the land confiscated, and there is no poppy now in the whole district of Kaihsien with its forty-eight markets.\n\n(The area under cultivation last season-1908-9-did show an increase as compared with former years. I am working in this district for eight years, and never have I seen as much poppy as this year, 1909.)\n\nWanlisien.-There is no poppy to be seen in the district.\n\n(Last season's cultivation, i.e., 1908-9, fully 50 per cent. more than last three years.)\n\nChungchou.--Prohibition carefully carried out, and there is no poppy now. (Last season's cultivation, i.e., 1908-9, 50 per cent. less than previous one.) Fenglu-One-tenth of last year's crop being grown.\n\n(Last season's cultivation, i.e., 1908-9, less by half than that of previous season.) Tienchiang.--No opium grown now, Some was planted, but the officials insisted on its being dug up.\n\nLiangshan-Prohibition is being carefully enforced, and there is no opium being grown.\n\n(The area under cultivation has not been reduced, though I do not think the increase was considerable, as all available land was devoted to this crop from the first.)\n\nTachu---Prohibition is being carefully enforced, and there is no opium being grown.\n\nFuchou-Public against prohibition but proclamations regarding it were issued. A few of the more daring planted, but others waited to see what was going to happen. A few culprits were arrested and treated so leniently by the officials that the public thought the prohibition was not going to be enforced, and proceeded to plant 50 per cent. more than last year. Since the Taot'ais visit all opium round the town, along the river, and on the highroads has been cut down, and between 60 and 70 per cent. in the remainder of the district. This information is from a native pastor whose last statement I am not disposed to credit.\n\n(Last season's cultivation--1908--9---six times as great as the previous one.) Yungchuan.-An attempt to grow opium was made at the outset, but finally the farmers destroyed their seedlings out of fear of the officials.\n\nThe above-mentioned places have been the chief opium-producing centres in Eastern Szechuan during past years. Opium was, however, grown practically everywhere in Szechuan on a greater or smaller scale, and replies from other places are as follows:-\n\nNanch'uan.--Attempts to sow were made at the commencement of the season, but the plants were all rooted up, and there is little or no opium-growing now.\n\n(1909 crop six times as great as in 1908.)\n\nChangshou-Prohibition is being effectively carried out. Where the proclamation was disobeyed, all the plants were dug up, and the cultivators fined. Some is grown in the mountainous parts of the district, where it is difficult for the officials to reach the farmers, but very little in comparison with previous years.\n\nPahsien (Chungking).--There is practically no opium being grown, and the prohibition is being vigorously enforced. In a few cases attempts to cultivate have been made, but the plants have been rooted up.\n\n(1909 crop twice as large as in 1908, and 10 to 20 per cent. above the average. Chichiang,--Same remarks apply as for Pahsien.\n\nChiangchin.-No opium being cultivated.\n\nShihchut'ing.-80 per cent. of what was sown has been cut down, and it is intended to root up the rest.\n\n(Cultivation in 1909 was about 20 per cent. less than in 1908.)\n\n7\n\nOfficial Measures for Prevention of Opium Smoking.\n\nThe official measures proposed were closing of dens, sale of the drug to licensees only, gradual reduction in amount allowed to be purchased by each individual, &c.\n\nThe answers to enquiries regarding the enforcement of the rules in this respect seem to show that they are honoured rather in the breach than in the observance.\n\nIn all places public dens have been abolished officially, but many of these carry on business secretly.\n\nThe rules in regard to the registration of smokers, issue of licences, sale to licence-holders alone, and gradual reduction in amount smoked, are so elaborate that they are unpractical; hence they seem to be very generally disregarded by the authorities.\n\nLittle or nothing, on the whole, is being done in the direction of opening refuges, the charitable distribution of anti-opium pills, &c., for the purpose of assisting the poorer classes to give up the habit.\n\nReplies to questions under this heading are as follows:-\n\nHsuting.--Opium dens strictly closed since autumn, but many secret dens have sprung up.\n\nKaihsien.-Dens closed in the spring, but have since reopened. No registration of smokers.\n\nWanhsien.-Private dens in abundance. Licence system started, but it is not carried out.\n\nFengtu -Numerous secret dens. Licence system not in force. Tienchiang.-Smoking rules not enforced, but people are reducing the amount smoked themselves, as they cannot afford it.\n\nLiangshan.-Private dens flourish rather than exist, though the trade is less openly carried on in the cities than along the through road to Cheng-tu and Chungking, where travellers are catered for. The issue of licences was carried out by only some of the country wards.\n\nFuchou-No registration of smokers. People smoke openly in Pi Fa tien--shops nominally established under official supervision for sale of opium to holders of licences, where no consumption on the premises is allowed.\n\nNanch'uan.-Many secret dens. Smoking rules not enforced.\n\nChangshou-Many secret dens in country places. Smoking rules not enforced. Shihchuting.-Smoking rules not enforced. Public opium dens closed, and only two or three secret ones.\n\nCh'ichiang.-Lax as regards smoking permits.\n\nChiangchin-Plenty of secret dens. No licences to smoke issued. Everyone can buy as much opium as he likes, but price is becoming prohibitive.\n\nDecrease in Smoking.\n\nNotwithstanding the laxity in the enforcement of the rules referred to under the last heading, the general testimony is that there is a perceptible decrease in the amount of smoking due probably more to the price, which is becoming prohibitive, than to any desire to give the habit up.\n\nRaw opium sells locally for 528 taels a picul as compared with 300 taels at this time last year.\n\nThe official price of an ounce of the prepared article is 820 cash as compared with between 200 and 300 cash a few years ago.\n\nReplies to the question as to whether there is a decrease in the amount of smoking are:-\n\nHsuting. Yes, a very marked change has come over the land, which bids fair to stamp out opium smoking entirely in course of time.\n\nKaihsien.-Very little at present,\n\nWanhsien.-There is undoubtedly a decrease in smoking, but as yet it is not very apparent.\n\nChungchou-20 per cent. less smoking. Opium is too expensive. Fengtu. Has decreased.\n\nTienchiang-Has decreased.\n\nLiangshan-I should most emphatically say that there is a marked decrease in the consumption of opium.\n\nFuchou.-Smokers have reduced by 50 per cent. owing to excessive price, but these have not broken off the habit. They eat pills containing opium. About 10 per cent. have really broken off the habit.\n\n[2719 66-1]\n\nD\n\n53",
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