XN000022-1984-01-14 — Page 5

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1984

COMMENTING ON THE ROLE OF SCOUTING IN THE ANTI-NARCOTICS FIGHT. HE SAID THE MAIN TARGET OF OUR PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IS YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 24 BECAUSE THEY ARE MOST EXPOSED TO THE RISK OF BECOMING DRUG ADDICTS.+

+THE SCOUTS CAN HELP STEER THE AT-RISK-GROUP AWAY FROM DRUGS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO STRIVE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE. BUT TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, THEY MUST HAVE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE AND ITS DANGERS. OF THE WAY TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BEING TRAPPED BY DRUG PUSHERS AND OF THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES FOR DRUG ADDICTS, HE SAID.

TO HELP ITS MEMBERS ACQUIRE SUCH KNOWLEDGE, THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, IS DEVISING A SPECIAL DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION BADGE SCHEME FOR THEM.

+THROUGH TRAINING COURSES PROVIDED UNDER THE BADGE SCHEME, THE SCOUTS, VENTURE SCOUTS AND ROVER SCOUTS WILL LEARN HOW TO TACKLE THE DRUG PROBLEM AND TO DISSUADE PEOPLE OF THEIR OWN AGE FROM ABUSING DRUGS, HE SAID.

+THE BADGE SCHEME IS VERY VALUABLE AND MEANINGFUL IN THAT IT WILL ALSO HELP THE PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP A BETTER PERSONALITY AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL, HE ADDED.

WHILE PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SCOUTS FOR THEIR SUSTAINED CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS, MR NG WISHED THEM SUCCESS WITH THE DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION BADGE SCHEME AND HOPED THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS WORTHY CAUSE IN FUTURE.

FIRE DRILLS FOR SQUATTERS ***

SQUATTER AREA FIRE WATCH TEAMS IN KOWLOON CITY WILL TEST THEIR FIRE FIGHTING SKILLS DURING A SERIES OF DRILLS ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING.

TAKING PART IN THE EXERCISE WILL BE TEAMS FROM HO KAR YUEN, SA! TAU VILLAGE AND MODEL VILLAGE WHICH WERE FORMED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THEY WILL BE GIVEN FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO PUT OUT SIMULATED FIRES DURING THE DRILL IN MODEL VILLAGE.

THE TEAM WHICH CAN EXTINGUISH THE FIRE IN THE SHORTEST TIME AND SHOW A PROPER USE OF THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE AWARDED PRIZES.

THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR GORDON JONES, SAID IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR SQUATTERS TO EQUIP THEMSELVES WITH BASIC FIRE FIGHTING TECHNIQUES.

/+IN THIS