XN000022-1987-11-23 — Page 2

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1987

HONG KONG DETERMINED TO ERADICATE DRUGS

*

ITS

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT 19 DETERMINED TO CONTINUE DECLARED POLICY OF ERADICATING DRUG ABUSE AND DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM SOCIETY.

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID THIS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY TODAY (MONDAY) OF

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF OF DRUG AND

NON-GOVERNMENTAL

SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

ORGANISATIONS

THE FOR THE PREVENTION

NOTING THAT THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND DRUG ABUSE WERE GLOBAL ONES AND REQUIRED INTER-REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LIAISON AND CO-OPERATION, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD MAINTAINED CLOSE LINKS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS AND ITS AGENCIES, INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES, ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN ANTI-DRUG WORK.

AND

NON-GOVERNMENTAL

OBSERVING THAT NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR ILLICIT DRUGS, SIR DAVID SAID THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN GRADUALLY CONTAINED WITH THE SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND

THE PUBLIC.

"IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF KNOWN AND ACTIVE ADDICTS HAS REMAINED FAIRLY STABLE AT 0.8 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION AGED 11 AND ABOVE.

CENTRAL REGISTRY OF 1983 TO WELL UNDER THERE HAS BEEN A

"THE NUMBER OF NEW REGISTRATIONS ON OUR DRUG ABUSE HAS FALLEN FROM JUST UNDER 4,000 IN 3,000 IN 1986: AND IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, FURTHER DECREASE OF OVER 10 PER CENT," HE SAID.

THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS WHO VOLUNTEERED ALSO INCREASED BY 23 PER CENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, SIR DAVID ADDED.

FOR TREATMENT HAD 1987 COMPARED ΤΟ

THE GOVERNOR SAID NO CAMPAIGN AGAINST DRUGS COULD ВЕ SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY HAD BEEN TO ENLIST THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC.

TO DO THIS, EDUCATIONAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS PROGRAMMES WERE ORGANISED BACH YEAR WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS, DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS THE MASS MEDIA.

THERE WERE ALSO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMMES SUCH AS THE YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME WHICH ENCOURAGED GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO DESIGN AND PUT INTO EFFECT DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION PROJECTS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT; SEMINARS FOR PARENTS, SOCIAL WORKERS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIONS; AND FAMILY CAMPS.

AND

/SIR DAVID