XN000022-1983-07-03 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, JULY 3, 1983

THE TWO FUNDS ARE THE HONG KONG ROTARY CLUB STUDENTS' LOAN FUND AND THE STANDARD-SING TAO FAT CHOY DRIVE STUDENTS' LOAN FUND.

STUDENTS ATTENDING OR INTENDING TO ENTER THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC OR THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE SHOULD APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS BEFORE OCTOBER 16.

THE OFFICIALS OR OFFICE TAKING CARE OF THESE APPLICATIONS ARE THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG; THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, STUDENT AFFAIRS OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY; THE STUDENT WELFARE OFFICER OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC; AND THE STUDENT FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE.

ANTI-NARCOTICS DRIVE LAUNCHED IN SOUTHERN ******

THE PROBLEM OF DRUG TAKING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT WAS NOT SERIOUS, AS REVEALED IN A RECENT SURVEY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR LAWRENCE MILLS, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

HE NOTED THAT OF THE 657 YOUTHS INTERVIEWED IN THE SURVEY, ONLY NINE OR 1.3 PER CENT CLAIMED TO HAVE TAKEN DRUGS.

+WITH NO COMPARABLE FIGURES IN OTHER DISTRICTS AVAILABLE, THE LOW INCIDENCE OF DRUG TAKING WOULD TEND TO INDICATE THAT DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT IS NOT SERIOUS, HE SAID.

MR MILLS WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A TWO-WEEK SOUTHERN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN HELD AT REPULSE BAY THIS AFTERNOON.

+THIS NOTWITHSTANDING, THE SURVEY DID IDENTIFY A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION (7.5 PER CENT) OF YOUTHS WHO COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS FALLING WITHIN THE +HIGH RISK+ CATEGORY, THAT IS YOUTHS WHO HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF DRUGS, WHO MAY HAVE ACCESS TO DRUGS AND WHO HAVE A HIGH MOTIVATION TO TAKE DRUGS.

+THESE YOUTHS ARE GENERALLY THOSE WHO HAVE A LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATION, LIVE IN OVER-CROWDED CONDITIONS, RECEIVE LITTLE CONCERN FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND USUALLY ENGAGE IN NON-CONSTRUCTIVE LEISURE ACTIVITIES,+ HE SAID.

MR MILLS SAID IN PLANNING THE CAMPAIGN, THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARISING FROM THE SURVEY.

THE SERIES OF RECREATIONAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES HELD IN THE COMING FORTNIGHT WOULD TRY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE DANGER OF DRUG ABUSE AND THE WAYS TO GET AWAY FROM IT. HE SAID.

/THESE WILL