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After receiving the report in person from Professor Chen and Mr Wong, the Governor commented: "I am very grateful to ACAN for their very sensible and thorough report.
were:
"The Government will be taking the proposals forward vigorously."
Examples given by the Governor of action to be taken by the Government
Strengthening outreaching social work service to help young people experimenting with drugs.
Stepping up preventive education and publicity against the abuse of "soft drugs".
Strengthening liaison between the Police and Housing Department in tackling the drug abuse problem in public housing estates.
Mr Patten also announced the results of the first tranche of application to the $350 million Beat Drugs Fund, which was established in March this year to finance worthwhile anti-drugs projects.
A total of 24 anti-drug projects costing some $8.7 million have been selected for funding support by the Fund. More than $5.3 million will go to 14 drug treatment and rehabilitation projects while $3.2 million will be allocated to eight projects on preventive education and publicity.
These projects include:
Setting up of a pilot project for high-risk youth in Tseung Kwan O;
Funding support for non-subvented voluntary residential drug treatment and rehabilitation agencies to strengthen their counselling service;
Improvement works for treatment facilities run by a number of Christian therapeutic agencies.
The Governor said: "I am very pleased with the results of the second Summit. We will now concentrate our efforts in following up vigorously the action plans and recommendations arising from the Summit."
"Together, we can beat drugs."
End