XN000022-1984-07-08 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 8, 1984

YOUNGSTERS FIGHT DRUG EVIL

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PREVENTIVE EDUCATION IS THE MAIN EMPHASIS OF THIS YEAR'S ANTI-NARCOTICS DRIVE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE MESSAGE.

+YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN THE EVILS OF DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFICKING THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO GET THE ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGE ACROSS. THE MORE SO IF THEY ARE THE ONES WHO INITIATE THEM, MR BOB TONG, EXECUTIVE OFFICER (DRUG EDUCATION) OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, SAID,

AND THIS IS JUST WHAT THE YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME (YADS) IS ALL ABOUT.

THE SCHEME, RUN BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 15 OR ABOVE TO DESIGN, PLAN AND IMPLEMENT ANTI-NARCOTICS EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROJECTS.

MR TONG SAID THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AT THIS AGE GROUP ARE THEIR TARGET AS THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO DRUG ABUSE UNDER THE

INFLUENCE OF THEIR PEERS, OUT OF CURIOSITY OR FROM THE NEED FOR ESCAPE RESULTING FROM FRUSTRATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT FORM OF DIVERSIONS.

+ IN PLANNING, ORGANISING AND RUNNING THESE PROJECTS, THEY CAN EXERCISE THE IR IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY TO PROMOTE THE ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGE, HE SAID.

+BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY CAN GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADOPT THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PROBLEM,+ MR TONG ADDED.

+ALSO, THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES THEY ORGANISE, THOUSANDS OF YOUTHS WILL RECEIVE THE ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGE,+ MR TONG SAID.

UNDER THE SCHEME, GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, EACH OF 10 MEMBERS OR MORE, CAN LODGE PROPOSALS FOR CONSIDERATION AND FUNDING.

A SELECTION BOARD, COMPRISING SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, WILL ASSESS THE IR PROPOSED PROJECTS BASED ON SUCH CRITERIA AS APPLICABILITY, PUBLICITY VALUE, INNOVATION, COST EFFECTIVENESS AND ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE.

+ONCE THE PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED, FUNDS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $3 000 EACH WILL BE GRANTED AND THE GROUPS WILL BE GIVEN A FREE HAND TO IMPLEMENT THEIR PROJECTS, WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE NARCOTICS DIVISION STAFF, MR TONG SAID.

THE MAJORITY OF THE GROUPS COME FROM YOUTH CENTRES, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND SCHOOLS. TO HELP THEM CARRY OUT THEIR PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY, A BRIEFING SESSION ON THE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR ORGANISING ACTIVITIES AND ON THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG IS ARRANGED.

/+NORMALLY IT

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