WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982
24
YOUNG PEOPLE AND DRUGS
****
GREATER AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS AND CONTINUED INTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTION BY THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS SERVICES HAVE BEEN THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE GROWING NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE PROSECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE UNDER 21 THUS PROSECUTED WAS 245 IN 1977, 294 IN 1978, 264 IN 1979, 304 IN 1980, 693 IN 1981 AND 691 IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE FIGURES INCLUDED MANY YOUNG PEOPLE PROSECUTED FOR SUCH OFFENCES AS CARRYING DRUGS, BUT WHO WERE NOT THEMSELVES ADDICTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AVERAGE YOUNG ADDICT IN HONG KONG HAS NO MORE THAN FIVE AND A HALF YEARS' EDUCATION, IS EMPLOYED IN CASUAL- LABOUR OR SEMI-SKILLED OCCUPATIONS, HAS A POOR HOME BACKGROUND AND LIVES IN OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS.
ON PREVENTIVE MEASURES RAISED BY MR HO, MR JEAFFRESON REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE ADVICE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS HAD DEVELOPED A PROGRAMME OF PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT YOUNG PEOPLE MOST AT RISK OF BECOMING ADDICTS.
THE FIRST +LINE OF ATTACK+ DIRECTED AT THE COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED TO TELL SOCIETY GENERALLY AND PARENTS IN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUGS AND TO ENLIST THEIR SUPPORT IN ACTIVELY DISCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM STARTING ON DRUGS.
THE SECOND IS DIRECTED AT POTENTIAL ADDICTS THROUGH DRUG EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THROUGH SEMINARS AND EXHIBITIONS.
SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS ADEQUATE
***
THERE IS ADEQUATE PROVISION IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULA FOR SEX EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
THE PROVISION, HE SAID, WAS MADE THROUGH SYLLABUSES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, EDUCATION TELEVISION, A MASS OF AUDIO VISUAL RESOURCE MATERIAL, REGULAR SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS, THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS, SCHOOL INSPECTION, AND CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WORKERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
MR HAYE WAS REPLYING TO A QUERY FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI AS TO WHETHER GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT ADEQUATE PROVISION WAS MADE IN SCHOOL CURRICULA FOR SEX EDUCATION.
/+VE BELIEVE