§ MR. THEODORE TAYLOR (Lancashire, Radcliffe)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information showing that the Chinese inhabitants of Hong-Kong are afraid to form anti-opium societies because of the belief that the British authorities are opposed to such action; whether he is aware that the encouragement of such societies is one of the Chinese Government's methods of reform among their own people; and whether the Secretary of State will give instructions to the Government of Hong-Kong to encourage and aid such societies by every means in their power.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe Answer to the first part of my hon. friend's Question is in the negative. The attitude of His Majesty's Government on the opium question is well known in Hong-Kong, and the Secretary of State therefore sees no reason to issue instructions to the Colonial Government, but a copy of the Question and of my reply shall be sent to the Governor.
§ MR. THEODORE TAYLORWill the hon. Gentleman cause inquiry to be made as to whether there is any truth in the allegation?
§ COLONEL SEELYCertainly, we will inquire.