XN000022-1981-02-15 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981

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THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG HAS DECREASED FROM ABOUT 200 000 IN 1959 TO ABOUT 40 000,

+WE MUST NOT,

HOWEVER, BE COMPLACENT WITH THE ACHIEVEMENTS THUS FAR,+ MÅ BARNES SAID.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE 40 000 DRUG ADDICTS IN OUR COMMUNITY COULD POSE, TO A GREATER OR LESSER EXTENT, A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY'S INTEGRITY AND PEACE OF MIND.

+DESPITE THE FACT THAT THOSE UNDER 19 MAKE UP ONLY FOUR

PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ADDICT POPULATION AND THERE IS EVERY SIGN OF ITS CONTRACTION, WE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THE POTENTIAL DANGER WHICH DRUG ABUSE POSES TO THE YOUNG IF WE ARE TO RELAX OUR EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THE DRUG PROBLEM.+

+WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE IN OUR MIDST ALSO THOSE WHO, IN THEIR PITILESS GREED FOR PROFIT, WOULD WISH TO SEE A VAST INCREASE IN ADDICTION, HE ADDED.

TODAY'S EVENT WAS ORGANISED BY THE ACAN AND THE DISTRICT'S ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (SOUTHERN) AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, WONG CHUK HANG OFFICE.

ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION WERE MR KARL STUMPF. CHAIRMAN OF ACAN'S PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE AND MR C.M. LEUNG, ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS.

AMONG THE GUESTS WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL KAIFONG LEADERS.

MR PETER WILLIAMS, COMMISSIONER FOR THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION EARLIER VISITED THE SPORTS GROUND TO WATCH THE TELEMATCH GAMES.

REMINDER TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERERS

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WORKERS WHO WERE DIAGNOSED BEFORE JANUARY 1 AS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOS IS. BUT WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED BY THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS MEDICAL ASSESSMENT BOARD, WERE URGED TODAY (SUNDAY) TO CONTACT THE WAN CHAI CHEST CLINIC IN KENNEDY ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THEY SHOULD CALL AT THE CLINIC IN PERSON OR TELEPHONE 5-726024.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID PEOPLE DIAGNOSED BEFORE JANUARY 1 AS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONOSIS MAY APPLY FOR EXGRATIA PAYMENTS FROM GOVERNMENT.

HE SAID THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD WRITTEN TO PEOPLE KNOWN TO IT TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE LUNG DISEASE TO COME FORWARD FOR MEDICAL ASSESSMENT, BUT SOME OF THEM HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THIS NOTIFICATION.

+PERHAPS THIS