Sessional_Paper_1909 — Page 117

HONGKONG.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING THE RESTRICTION OF OPIUM IN HONGKONG AND IN CHINA.

No. 1909

3

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, March 11th, 1909.

against

On May 6th, 1908, Mr. W. Johnson moved a resolution in the House of The charge Commons (seconded by Mr. T. Taylor) approving the action of His Majesty's Hongkong. Government in progressively decreasing the quantity of opium exported from India to China, and urging the abolition of licensed Opium Dens in the Far Eastern Crown Colonies.* Both mover and seconder informed the House that in Hong- kong "nothing had been attempted,-nothing done". These statements passed unchallenged, and have conveyed to the rest of the Empire an erroneous impression of the facts regarding this Colony, which has caused no little soreness in a very loyal portion of His Majesty's oversea dominions. The Under Secretary in his reply said that His Majesty's Government recognised that in dealing with the opium question in Hongkong it was essential that we should act up to the Standards set by China and in a later debate on July 28th ‡ he added that it had not been possible to get a reasoned opinion from Hongkong.

I will endeavour in the following observations to remove the misunderstand- ing created by the remarks of Messrs. Johnson and Taylor, and at the same time to present a reasoned opinion as to the measures which may usefully and with justice be taken in order to give effect to the high object which His Majesty's Government have in view, viz., to restrict the opium habit in this Colony and to assist the Chinese Government in effecting a like restriction in China.

I write as one who has comparatively recently come to the Far East with no preconceived ideas and prejudices on the subject, but who has studied it closely for over a year. I claim moreover to have given practical proof in the past of a keen interest in matters affecting the welfare of Native Races,-e.g., the suppression of the Liquor Traffic, Slavery, etc., in Africa.

Colonies.

The Eastern Colonies, as a part of the British Empire, are animated by the same Attitude of ideals as the United Kingdom and have a not less high standard of morality. If then the Eastern the Rulers of the Empire at its centre, and the Home Parliament, with a full and accurate knowledge of the whole circumstances, arrive at the conclusion, that restriction in the matter of opium should be inaugurated in India and in the Eastern Crown Colonies, we may assume with confidence that the decision would meet with a loyal response, in spite of the fact (which Colonel Seely frankly pointed out that it is their Revenue and their trade, and not that of the United Kingdom,-which are affected.

The Colonies concerned are, however, naturally anxious that the Imperial decision shall be based upon an accurate presentment of the facts, and it is clear from a perusal of the speeches in the Legislative Councils and from the comments of the Colonial Press, that the communities concerned labour under an impression that public opinion in England has to some extent been misinformed as to the facts, and that in consequence the methods proposed are not in all cases such as are best adapted to the end in view, or consonant with a British sense of Justice. Willing co-operation can only be based upon a mutual conviction that the course of action adopted is one that has every prospect of being effective, and that the sacrifices made will not be futile.

* Hansard Vol. 188 (4th Series) p. 330 et seq.

P. 356.

† Ibid

Vol. 193, p. 1260, Ibiď p. 355.