THE OPIUM TRAFFIC IN CHINA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 245, 3 October 1911, Page 6

THE OPIUM TRAFFIC IN CHINA

NEW REGULATIONS. > Pekin, Aug. 22. The British Government is still in a practical manner manifesting its desire to assist China in the suppression of the opium traffic. Beginning on September Ist, uneertificated Indian opium, other than the amount requisite for the needs of the opium farmer by the terms of his contract, will be forbidden entry’in to Hongkong, nor can it be transhipped in colonial waters. Since certificated opium, the entry of which into China is permitted, costs in India double the uneertificated, the entry of which into China is prohibited, large quantities of the latter have been imported into Hong Kong, whence in the numberless water channels of the Canton delta it can easily be smuggled into China. The British Government, recognising China’s difficulty, imposscs the foregoing prohibi tion.

Persian opium in Hongkong in the possession of British opium merchants at present amounts to several hundred chests. From January- Ist, 1912. no Persian opium will be per mitted to enter China, although in 1908 merchants were notified that the traffic would only be extinguished gradually, ending in 1916. This yeat the full allowance of Persian opium permitted under the previous agree nient have been already admitted. The Chinese w ill, however, admit further chests this year, provided that the amount so admitted s de ducted from the total Indian opium permitted entrance this year. Meanwhile the question referred to by Sir Edward Grt v in I be House of Commons has been adjusted. The Viccrcy of Canton lias given a written assurance to the British ConsulGeneral that be will >--if ’i-i)i to the Edict of Julv 25 f ’-bb' loig extra tariff taxation, am! in return th< British Govcrnnio'.d consents to the procedure prohibit mg in the terms of Article 3 the import <‘f Indri"i opmn in Manchuria, feliatisi ai d Szechuan, to which China hopes it»mcdin'ely to add the M-trop-'ci;an FroiiuCJ.