HEALTH
The pilot counselling centre, PS33, set up in Tsim Sha Tsui in April 1988 to provide counselling and telephone advice for psychotropic substance abusers, handled 60 cases and 1 500 telephone and drop-in enquiries during the year. PS33 is operated by the Hong Kong Christian Service with financial support from the Lotteries Fund.
Preventive Education and Publicity
The government and the community continued their efforts in promoting anti-narcotics preventive education and publicity. Main theme of the publicity campaign in 1990 was to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and say 'no' to all drugs.
Seven district campaigns were held involving the community through carnivals, variety shows, beach concerts, seminars, exhibitions and visits to treatment and rehabilitation centres.
The Narcotics Division's school talks team gave 205 drug education talks to 75 000 students in 106 secondary schools and technical institutes throughout the territory. It also organised talks for juvenile offenders at the boys' and girls' homes operated by the Social Welfare Department.
Drug education was provided for Vietnamese refugees and boat people, including printed materials in Vietnamese.
For the 10th year, the Youth Against Drugs Scheme provided encouragement and financial support to young people who wished to participate directly in the planning and implementation of anti-narcotics projects. The 68-member ACAN Youth Volunteer Group took part in district campaigns and organised a number of community involvement projects. The ACAN Youth Advisory Group, comprising a cross-section of young people, continued to give advice on educational and publicity materials and activities.
The ACAN Drug Abuse Telephone Enquiry Service received 1030 enquiries, the majority seeking information on treatment facilities.
International Action
Hong Kong continued to play an active international role, maintaining close links with the United Nations, inter-governmental agencies such as the Colombo Plan Bureau, In- terpol and the Customs Co-operation Council, as well as with individual governments. Hong Kong took part in 16 regional and international meetings and seminars concerned with anti-drug policies, law enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation, and preventive education.
The techniques and methods employed in Hong Kong have made it an important venue for training anti-narcotics personnel from overseas. During the year, 147 people from 15 countries and international bodies came to Hong Kong on study visits and training courses, either through bilateral arrangements with their governments or under the sponsorship of a United Nations body. Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau and Customs Officers travelled overseas as lecturers or consultants on training courses related to anti- narcotics work.
Environmental Hygiene
The work of the Urban Services Department and the Regional Services Department includes street cleaning, collection and removal of nightsoil, cleansing of gullies, manage- ment of public toilets and bathhouses, pest control and services for the dead.
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