XN000022-1983-03-04 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983

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ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT ANTI-NARCOTICS SHOULD BE ACCORDED TOP PRIORITY WITH FULL-SCALE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THIS YEAR, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE SAID THE PROBLEM OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING DRUGS WAS INCREASING, WITH 22 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S ESTIMATED 43 000 ADDICTS BEING BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 24 TWO PER CENT MORE THAN IN 1980.

MR BARNES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A THREE-WEEK EASTERN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN HELD AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.

+THIS THREE-WEEK LONG PREVENTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXERCISE HAS PRIMARILY GOT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE 15 TO 24 AGE GROUP IN TARGET, THOUGH ITS ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGE IS MEANT FOR EVERYBODY,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THE CAMPAIGN, ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH, PROVIDED A FITTING CURTAIN-RAISER TO A YEAR-LONG ANTI-NARCOTICS EXERCISE WHICH WOULD COVER ALL OF HONG KONG.

+WE MUST PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DRUGS WE MUST AROUSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST STARTING TO TAKE THEM. WE MUST HELP THOSE WHO HAVE STARTED TO BREAK AWAY FROM THEM,+ HE STRESSED.

AT TONIGHT'S OPENING, A VARIETY SHOW FEATURING OPERAS, SINGING AND DANCING PERFORMANCES BY WELL-KNOWN ARTISTES AND STUDENTS WAS ALSO STAGED.

OTHER EVENTS WILL INCLUDE TALKS, SEMINARS, FILM SHOWS, VISITS, ESSAY AND DRAWING COMPETITIONS, A SPORTS CARNIVAL AND AN ANTI-NARCOTICS EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.

ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY THIS EVENING WERE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR H.T. LUI, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTÉE, MADAM ANITA CHAN.

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