Lu Ya's debate on smoking ban.

Since Britain forced the Qing government to obey orders by force, signed the treaty of nanking and gained the jurisdiction of Hong Kong, it used Hong Kong as a base to import opium to China even more unscrupulously. The Hong Kong authorities also rely on Chinese in Hong Kong and Kowloon to consume opium, and the opium business is the main source of tax revenue. 1890, the Hong Kong government only collected 477,600 yuan in opium license fees in Hong Kong and Kowloon, while the total tax revenue of the Hong Kong government in that year was1990,000 yuan, and opium tax accounted for 1/4. Later, the Hong Kong government set up a monopoly bureau, and more than 30 cigarette shops in Hong Kong and Kowloon were licensed, and there were countless retail opium shops. The government sent full-time staff to take charge of opium retail stores. As for clubs, restaurants, brothels, banks, rice shops, insurance companies and North-South banks, there are opium beds. As for the transfer to the mainland, there is no need to describe it.

During the Lua period, the British themselves had a debate about smoking ban. Healy Ci, a member of the London Anti-Smoking General Union, is an upright Englishman. He made an in-depth investigation on the abuses caused by opium in China, and made a statement in the upper and lower houses in 1908. He said: when I was in the Far East, I met the consular priest and friends. They all say that opium is a terrible poison in China. If Britain does not ban the transportation of cigarettes to China, Britain's crimes will last forever, and only Indians will benefit from it, while the people of China will suffer alone. I really don't know what his intentions are. When I passed by Hong Kong, I met a famous British businessman and discussed the issue of smoking ban with him. He thinks that China people should not be forbidden to enjoy life. I'm asking if you are a smoker. If your son is like a grandson, would you like to entertain yourself? He replied: This is another matter. I think it is impossible for me to be victimized, but I think it is ok for others to be victimized. If so, how can it be called peace? I know that the harm of tobacco poison can not only harm the body, but also destroy the country. I don't understand that the British in the Far East are harmless to China. As far as benevolence is concerned, there is no need to ask China to ban it, and I should ban it in Britain first.

Healy, a member of London Anti-Smoking Association, emphasized the core issue of "not only death, but also national subjugation" in his statement, but also pointedly pointed out that "the crime of Britain cannot be extinguished without grinding", showing his sympathy for the profound disaster caused by opium to the people of China. However, the then Governor Bligh actually emphasized two reasons why smoking should not be banned: first, if smoking is banned, opium companies will lose "400,000 yuan" in profits every year; First of all, if smoking is banned, the government will lose its main tax revenue. By allowing and encouraging opium dealers to operate openly, the Hong Kong government will gain great benefits.

The starting point of the mainstream who advocates smoking ban is humanitarianism, but the motivation of the opposition who insists on not smoking ban is "tax" and "financial resources". Under such a sharp contrast, we should enthusiastically support the idea of smoking ban and severely criticize the opinion of not smoking ban. But even the famous justices of the peace, such as Qi, Feng Huachuan and Liu, have joined the ranks of the British who do not ban smoking, not to mention the British!

As British businessmen are strongly opposed to smoking ban and supported by the Justice of the Peace in China, the Hong Kong Commerce Bureau held a meeting on 1908 May 16 and decided to oppose smoking ban. The Governor of Hong Kong, Lua, conveyed the following contents to the British government: public opinion in Hong Kong is not in favor of prohibiting the derogation of Hong Kong's rights immediately, but if it is implemented step by step with time, it will be praised by everyone.

At the meeting of the Legislative Council on 29 May, this resolution was warmly supported by Member Shi Diaowu, and China Justice of the Peace He Qi immediately responded.

At the same time, however, the British House of Commons passed a resolution asking Lua to take measures to abolish the licensed management system of opium dens in Hong Kong and other places quickly. Urged by the colonial minister, it was not until 1909 that Lua explicitly banned the export of tobacco paste to countries that prohibited the import of tobacco paste, and reduced the annual cooking quota from 1200 boxes to 900 boxes.