WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1979
GOVERNOR SAYS HONG KONG HAS BROKEN LOCALLY-BASED
INTERNATIONAL DRUG SYNDICATES *****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID HONG KONG IN THE PAST 10 YEARS HAS NOT ONLY BRÖKEN LOCALLY-BASED INTERNATIONAL DRUG SYNDICATES BUT HAS ALSO ENORMOUSLY IMPROVED ITS METHODS OF TREATING AND REHABILITATING ADDICTS.
ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS' (ACAN) MASS RALLY AT THE HONG KONG STADIUM, SIR MURRAY SAID WE HAVE ALSO GREATLY DEVELOPED PREVENTIVE METHODS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE RISKS OF · DRUG- ABUSE AND TO DETER EXPERIMENTATION WITH THEM.
+SO TODAY PEOPLE COME TO HONG KONG FROM MANY COUNTRIES TO LEARN FROM OUR ANTI-NARCOTICS METHODS.
SIR MURRAY SAID IT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE THAT THE RALLY TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR'S (1979-80) ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGNS, SHOULD HAVE THE THEME +HONG KONG'S YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS+ AS 1979 IS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD.+
+THE ATTENTION WE PAY TO THE WELL-BEING AND HAPPINESS OF TODAY'S YOUNG PEOPLE IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE,
HE SAID.
+WE MUST THEREFORE SEE THAT THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO USE THEIR NATURAL TALENTS,
HERE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID, WE HAVE HAD IN OUR MIDST FOR MANY YEARS A MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE, WHICH CAN UNDERMINE THE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS NOT ONLY OF THOSE AFFLICTED BUT OF THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.
+WE RECOGNISED OUR PROBLEM MANY YEARS AGO, AND HAVE DEVOTED GREAT EFFORT AND RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH IT, AND WITH CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS.+
HOWEVER, HE SAID, WE HAVE STILL AN ESTIMATED 40,000 TO 50,000 ADDicts.+
+WE HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN CURING THOSE ALREADY ADDICTED, OR ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE ADDICT FACES IN OVERCOMING HIS PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADDICTION.
+OUR OBJECT IS TO PROVIDE HIM WITH THE MEANS TO DEAL WITH HIS PROBLEMS AND TO LIVE A REASONABLE AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHILST HE IS DOING SO.
+WE ARE NOW DEVOTING MAJOR EFFORTS TO PREVENTION AND EDUCATION, TO ELIMINATE NEW RECRUITS TO THE ILLICIT USE OF DRUGS.
+FOR THIS, WE NEED THE PARTICIPATION AND THE ACTIVE SYMPATHY OF THE PUBLIC. THIS, I AM SURE, WE CAN COUNT ON,+ HE SAID.
MANY MORE ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW HELPING TO SPREAD THE DRUG-PREVENTION MESSAGE TO YOUTH, TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO ADDICTS AND FORMER ADDICTS IN THEIR REHABILITATION, AND TO REPORT SUSPECTED ILLICIT DRUG ACTIVITIES.
/THE PERIOD