ENG-1965 — Page 24

12

REVIEW

period exceeded the total for any previous year. Officers of the Narcotics Bureau seized more than two tons of raw opium, mor- phine and morphine hydrochloride in a single case in the New Territories. This is believed to be the largest narcotics seizure of its kind in the world. The drugs were discovered in a consignment of bamboo poles which had been brought from Bangkok. In a night operation, Narcotics Bureau officers seized another large quantity of drugs which had been smuggled ashore at a beach on Hong Kong Island. The seizure comprised 525 lbs and 15.7 oz of opium, 6 lbs and 7.8 oz of morphine hydrochloride, and 38 lbs and 9.5 oz of diacetylmorphine hydrochloride. Close co-operation was main- tained between the Narcotics Bureau and the Central Bureau of Narcotics in Bangkok in connexion with these two large seizures. A government officer was appointed to give full-time attention to anti-narcotics work. He holds the post of Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs and his duties include those of secretary to the Narcotics Advisory Committee as well as liaison with all govern- ment departments and voluntary organizations to achieve greater co-ordination at all levels.

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As anyone who has recently seen Kowloon from high ground will know, the Colony's building programme to provide homes for its people continues at a faster pace than ever. The vista is one of housing estates and yet more housing estates. The question is, should they any longer be regarded as estates? One which was opened this year will have an ultimate population of 184,000, which is equiva- lent to a large town anywhere and which in many other parts of the world would be regarded as a substantial city. The estate is at Tsz Wan Shan and in opening it the Governor recalled how Hong Kong's resettlement programme began and gave a glimpse of what it is likely to become.

'Eleven years ago', said Sir David, 'when the first multi-storey resettlement building was built and occupied, resettlement was regarded primarily as a form of emergency housing, to meet a passing need. Since those days it has become clear that the commit- ment is a continuing and, indeed, a growing one. The hundredth resettlement block was completed in November 1959, by which time the estates already held about 300,000 people. Now, there are 373 occupied blocks housing over 700,000 people.' (By the end of the year the population of all resettlement estates was 740,000.)