XN000022-1982-08-04 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, August 4, 1982

AUGUST

3

ACAN TO LAUNCH SECOND YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME

****

THE SECOND YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME+ OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGA. ST NARCOT.CSS NOW OPEN TO STUDENTS AND YOUTH GROUPS.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION SAID THE SCHEME HAD PROVED VERY POPULAR AS IT PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT OUTLET FOR IMAGINATIVE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DISPLAY THEIR TALENTS AND SKILLS THROUGH DRAMAS, SINGING, PAINTING AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS.

+THE AIM OF THE SCHEME IS TO ENCOURAGE MORE ACTIVE AND DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN ANTI-NARCOTICS WORK BY YOUTHS THROUGH PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

+THERE ARE TREMENDOUS NUMBERS OF ENTHUSIASTIC AND RESOURCEFUL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP IN ANTI-DRUGS ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG.+

UNDER THE SCHEME, THE ACAN WILL FINANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI-NARCOTICS EDUCATION OR PUBLICITY PROJECTS WHICH ARE PLANNED BY YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FIRST YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME+, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, HAD BEEN WELL RECEIVED. THERE WERE OVER 100 APPLICATIONS. HOWEVER ONLY 19 PROJECTS FROM STUDENTS AND YOUTH GROUPS WERE SELECTED BECAUSE OF MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL LIMITATIONS.

ADDED.

+THIS HAS MADE THE SCHEME ALL THE MORE COMPETITIVE,✦ HE

LAST YEAR, A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING SEMINARS EXHIBITIONS, COMPETITIONS, GAMESDAYS, TELEMATCHES, SONG-WRITING, CAMPING, PAINTING, DRAMA - ALL CARRYING ANTI-DRUGS MESSAGES - WAS IMPLEMENTED.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MAXIMUM GRANT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT WAS LIMITED TO $3 000, ALL GROUPS MADE CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THEIR IDEAS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SCHEME ALSO ENABLED YOUNG PEOPLE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG ABUSE THROUGH RESEARCH, PLANNING, ORGANISING AND IMPLEMENTING ANTI-DRUGS ACTIVITIES,

+EQUALLY IMPORTANT, + HE ADDED, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN AT THE SAME TIME PASS ON THE ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGES TO THE IR PEERS IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.+

THE SECOND ROUND OF THE SCHEME IS NOW OPEN TO ANY YOUTH GROUP COMPRISING AT LEAST 10 OR MORE MEMBERS WHO ARE 15 YEARS OLD OR ABOVE. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECOMMENDED BY THEIR SCHOOLS, YOUTH CENTRES, COMMUNITY CENTRES OR EMPLOYERS.

EACH APPLICATION WILL BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED BY A SELECTION BOARD ON ITS APPLICABILITY, PUBLICITY VALUE, INNOVATION, COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE.