XN000022-1978-09-23 — Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1978

SIR DENYS CALLS FOR GREATER PREVENTION EFFORTS

AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY THAT PREVENTION AND EDUCATION MEASURES MUST BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED IF THE DRUG PROBLEM IN HONG KONG IS TO BE ELIMINATED.

SIR DENYS WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY AT THE CONCOURSE OF THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THREE DISTRICT CAMPAIGNS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN) AND DISTRICT AGENCIES IN TAI PO, HONG KONG ISLAND SOUTH AND WONG TAI SIN.

HE SAID CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN FIGHTING DRUGS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THROUGH EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF ADDICTION TREATMENT FACILITIES.

+HOWEVER, WE MUST NOT RELY ONLY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIAL MEASURES, HE CAUTIONED.

+FOR ONLY BY PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BECOMING ADDICTS CAN WE HOPE TO FIRST CONTAIN THE PROBLEM AND TO ELIMINATE IT IN THE END, HE SAID.

SIR DENYS SAID THE EXISTING PREVENTIVE METHODS SHOULD BE 'REDOUBLED' AND THIS MEANS NOT ONLY TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE EVILS OF DRUGS BUT ALSO HELP THEM IN POSITIVE WAYS TO ADAPT TO OUR HIGHLY COMPETITIVE SOCIETY.

HE OBSERVED THAT DRUG ABUSE IS A MANIFESTATION OF VARIOUS FACTORS SUCH AS POOR EDUCATION, AN UNHAPPY FAMILY LIFE, AN UNSATISFACTORY ENVIRONMENT, THE PRESSURES AND FRUSTRATIONS OF A CROWDED URBAN LIFE AND PERSONALITY WEAKNESS.

+AS LONG AS THESE FACTORS EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY, AS THEY MAY BE EXPECTED TO DO, THOSE WHO FAIL TO STAND UP TO THEM ARE LIKELY TO BE TEMPTED TO TAKE DRUGS, WHICH APPEAR TO OFFER A TEMPORARY MEANS OF ESCAPE FROM THE HARSH REALITIES OF LIFE,+ HE SAID.

DURING THE CEREMONY, SIR DENYS PRESENTED THE COLOURS TO 1,000 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB, WHO THEN SET OFF ON A SPECIAL TRAIN FOR TAI PO, CARRYING WITH THEM BANNERS, PLACARDS AND 50,000 LEAFLETS.

REINFORCED BY ABOUT 400 MORE LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE UPON ARRIVAL, THEY WENT ALL OVER THE TOWN AREAS OF TAI PO MARKET, FAN LING AND SHEUNG SHUI TO HAND OUT THE ANTI-DRUG LEAFLETS.

/THE THREE-WEEK-LONG.....