XN000022-1983-10-16 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1983

ANTI-DRUG DRIVE STARTS IN WONG TAI SIN

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THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO THE DRUG ADDICTION PROBLEM LIES IN THE LONG-TERM PREVENTIVE EDUCATION TO INSTIL IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S MIND A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS COMMITTEE, MR MICHAEL CHENG, SAID THIS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TWO-WEEK DISTRICT CAMPAIGN BEGINNING AT MORSE PARK TODAY (SUNDAY).

THE WONG TAI SIN CAMPAIGN, HE SAID, WAS PART OF GOVERNMENT'S PUBLICITY EFFORTS TO ALERT PEOPLE ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF DRUG ADDICTION.

MR CHENG POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN UPSWING IN THE DRUG PROBLEM INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE, HE SAID, THERE WERE ONLY 388 YOUNG ADDICTS AGED UNDER 21 IN 1978, REPRESENTING A MERE 5.9 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER, OF CASES RECEIVED BY THE CENTRE.

+HOWEVER, THE NUMBER HAD INCREASED TO A STAGGERING 939 PEOPLE OR 26.8 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CASES IN 1982, + MR CHENG SAID.

+DURING THE SAME PERIOD, PROSECUTIONS ON VARIOUS DRUG OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE HAD ALSO RISEN FROM 294 IN 1978 TO 1 016 IN 1982.+

MORE THAN 5 000 YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT-PACKED PROGRAMME AT MORSE PARK TODAY.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT INCLUDED AN ANTI-NARCOTICS SLOGANS FLASH BOARDS PERFORMANCE, A LION DANCE, POLICE BAND PERFORMANCES AND A CARNIVAL FEATURING MORE THAN 25 GAMES STALLS.

ALSO PRESENT AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE A LEGISLATIVE

THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY COUNCILLOR, REV PATRICK MCGOVERN:

FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR H.T. LUI; THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PHILIP CHOK; AND THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR K.K. LAM.

IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS WILL BE TAKING PART IN A SERIES OF INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

THESE WILL INCLUDE AN ESSAY COMPETITION, A CROSS WORD PUZZLE, A VARIETY SHOW, A ROUND-THE-DISTRICT WALK AND AN EXCURSION TO THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL. DETAILS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE.

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