XN000022-1982-02-07 — Page 2

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982

SIR ALBERT OPENS SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN

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SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, TODAY (SUNDAY) EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DRUG-RELATED CRIMES.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ANTI- NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN, SIR ALBERT POINTED OUT THAT DRUG ABUSE IS ON THE RISE WORLDWIDE, WITH ADDICTS BECOMING YOUNGER AND TURNING TO STRONGER DRUGS WHICH ARE INCREASINGLY EASY TO OBTAIN.

WHILE WE CAN PROUDLY AND CONFIDENTLY CLAIM THAT WE HAVE CONTAINED THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM, HE SAID, THERE IS A WORRYING TREND REPORTED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING LED TO DRUG CRIMES.

ALTHOUGH MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE NON-ADDICTS THE IR INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTES A GREAT RISK THAT SOME OF THEM MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME ADDICTS, HE ADDED.

SIR ALBERT ALSO NOTED THAT FOLLOWING THE CONTINUOUS DECLINE FOR TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 21 ADMITTED TO BOTH VOLUNTARY AND COMPULSORY TREATMENT CENTRES IN 1981 SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE.

ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, SIR ALBERT SAID ALTHOUGH THE AUTHORITIES SEIZED MORE DRUGS IN 1981 THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE PRICES OF NARCOTIC DRUGS HAVE INCREASED AND THE NUMBER OF OFFENCES WERE ALSO INCREASING.

+THESE ARE OMINOUS SIGNS AND A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE TRAFFICKERS WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL IN THIS TRADE OF MISERY BECAUSE THE PROF ITS FROM IT ARE TREMENDOUS.

+LET US RE-CONSOLIDATE OUR EFFORTS IN THE JOINT FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS,+ SIR ALBERT URGED.

HE SAID THAT IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT THE ACAN HAS GAINED SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND CIVIC ORGANISATIONS IN THE PAST YEARS.

+WE ALL REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR ILLICIT DRUGS BY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE, ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE.

+SHA TIN IS A RELATIVELY NEW COMMUNITY WITH A HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT IS HEARTENING TO SEE THE LEADERS OF THIS NEW TOWN GIVING THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN THIS CAMPAIGN WHICH THE ACAN EACH YEAR LAUNCHES ON A DISTRICT BASIS, SIR ALBERT SAID.

HE ALSO THANKED THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD FOR ITS GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP AND ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION.

THE SHA TIN