Anniversary celebration: Narcotics Bureau celebrates its 50th anniversary with a banquet.

As the Police Narcotics Bureau enters its 51st year, its Chief Superintendent Kenny Ip vows to resolutely tackle drug trafficking, drug abuse and money laundering, and strive to preserve the excellent reputation it has built over the past half century.

Mr Ip told Police internal newspaper OffBeat that the bureau will effectively combat the nefarious drugs trade and money laundering to contribute to a better Hong Kong.

"We will achieve excellence in all that we do in pursuit of effectively disrupting the illicit drugs trade and money laundering, thereby contributing significantly to protecting Hong Kong society from their adverse consequences," he said.

Commemorative book published

On October 29, the bureau celebrated its 50th anniversary with a banquet for both serving and former members, and published a commemorative book on what it has developed and achieved since coming into being in 1954.

Guests attending the reunion included former heads Eddie Hui and Tsang Yam-pui, both former Commissioners, David Hodson, Iain Grant and Henrique Koo.

The bureau was established as part of the then Anti-Corruption Branch, headed by one Assistant Superintendent and assisted by two staff. It was quickly expanded to six officers, including a sub-inspector, and its charter was formally set as "developing intelligence and co-ordinating action to suppress narcotics activities". At the time, Hong Kong was seeing a shift from opium to heroin abuse.

In 1961, the bureau was expanded and became a formation in its own right and moved to the former Li Po Chun Chambers in Des Voeux Road Central. Twelve years later in 1973, it beefed up its manpower and moved into larger office space at Police Headquarters in Wan Chai where it has remained.

Notable achievements

In the mid-1970s, the bureau was highly successful in shutting down large syndicates, particularly those of several notorious drug lords. In 1975, Ng Sik-ho, a major protagonist in international trafficking, was arrested and jailed along with two accomplices. Other high profile cases cracked by the bureau in the ensuing years caused an immense impact on international drug trade.

In one of Hong Kong's most significant drug-money laundering investigations in 1989 after enactment of the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance, $165 million in proceeds of large shipments of heroin to the US by a Hong Kong trafficker was confiscated.

In more recent times, Hong Kong has seen an increase in party drug abuse. At rave parties and discos, ecstasy was in high demand, with ketamine also making inroads into the illicit market.

After the Financial Investigation Division of the Organised Crime & Triad Bureau merged with the bureau last January, the bureau's charter for such investigation was extended to cover organised crime and terrorist financing.

Since enactment of legislation targeting the ill-gotten gains of traffickers, the court has confiscated several hundred millions of dollars as a result of successful prosecutions brought by the bureau.

The bureau pledges continue its anti-drug efforts for many decades to come.