§ MR. THEODORE TAYLORI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in the Chinese ruled city of Shanghai opium dens have all been closed since June last; whether in every foreign settlement in China, except shanghai, all opium dens have been for some time past shut up; what action the municipal council of the international settlement of Shanghai has taken to close the numerous opium dens they now licence; and whether they have fixed a date, and, if so, what is the date, after which all their opium dens shall be closed.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe reply to the first Question is in the affirmative. 54 No opium dens exist at present in any British concessions in China, but I am unable to say whether that is the case in all other foreign concessions. On 20th March the ratepayers of the Shanghai international settlement adopted a resolution whereby the number of opium houses was to be reduced by a quarter from 1st July next. The chairman of the municipal council explained at the time that this was part of a programme of periodical reductions leading to complete abolition in two years or less. The Viceroy of Nanking is stated to have expressed his satisfaction at this measure.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI am not aware of any.