XN000022-1984-01-14 — Page 4

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1984

3

SPEAKING AT THE TUEN MUN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN CLOSING CEREMONY, MR STUMPF SAID, THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THROUGH ITS PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES, HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING IN THE COMMUNITY AN AWARENESS OF THE GRAVE DANGER OF DRUG ABUSE.+

BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE REACHING THE GOAL OF DRUG ERADICATION.

HOWEVER, HE SAID HE FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT THE GOAL COULD BE REACHED THROUGH THE COMBINED EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.

HE SAID, THE EVENT TODAY NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATES THE FULL-SCALE SUPPORT GIVEN BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT COMMUNITY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, BUT IT ALSO INDICATES THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS DO NOT REMAIN ON THE SIDELINES AND WATCH WHILE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY JEOPARDISE THEIR LIVES BY TAKING DRUGS.+

THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN WAS HELD BETWEEN JANUARY 5 AND 14.

THE ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGES WERE DISSEMINATED THROUGH A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND INTERESTING ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE.

SCOUTS CAN PLAY ACTIVE ROLE IN ANTI-NARCOTICS FIGHT

*****

ARMED WITH ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE IN DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND LEADERSHIP, THE SCOUTS IN HONG KONG CAN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS, THE PRINCIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, MR HANDRICK NG, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IN PREVENTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM BECOMING DRUG ADDICTS IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH, AND TO ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE PART IN, HEALTHY AND MEANINGFUL RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, OF WHICH SCOUT MOVEMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST, HE ADDED.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE COMBINED STAFF DINNER OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG (EAST KOWLOON REGION) ON THE NARCOTICS PROBLEM IN HONG KONG AND THE ROLE OF SCOUTING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST IT+.

HE SAID THAT DRUG ABUSE IS A SERIOUS AND LONG STANDING PROBLEM IN HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO ERADICATE THE PROBLEM BY AN OVERALL STRATEGY WHICH CONSISTS OF FOUR MAIN ELEMENTS, NAMELY LAW ENFORCEMENT, TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION, PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, AND INTERNATIONAL ACTION.

/COMMENTING ON