XN000022-1992-04-08 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1992

THE TOTAL INTEREST ADDED TO THE RESERVES IN YEARS, EXPRESSED IN MONEY TERMS AND AS A PERCENTAGE RESERVES IN EACH YEAR, WAS AS FOLLOWS:

TOTAL INTEREST

$ MILLION

% OF AVERAGE RESERVES

THE PAST FIVE OF THE AVERAGE

1990-91

5,750

8.0

1989-90

5,300

8.2

1988-89

3,122

6.2

1987-88

1,537

4.0

1986-87

1,309

4.5

GOVT TACKLING PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM

THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG ABUSE IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LAM SECRETARY SAID AT PRESENT, THERE WAS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS WERE BEING USED AS TO HEROIN AND OTHER NARCOTICS.

OF

MR

THE

KUI-CHUN, IN HONG KONG GATEWAY DRUGS

HOWEVER, THERE WAS AN INCREASING, THOUGH STILL SMALL, NUMBER OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG ABUSERS, AGED UNDER

21, WHO HAD COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE SINCE THE MID 19808.

SAID.

"WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM," THE SECRETARY

HE SAID ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF DEALING WITH ANY DRUG ABUSE WAS PREVENTIVE EDUCATION.

"WE GIVE REGULAR ANTI-DRUG TALKS то SECONDARY SCHOOL AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS, HE ADDED.

邮

ΤΟ

HARMFUL DEVELOP

HE SAID THESE TALKS DISSEMINATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE, AND AIMED TO ASSISTING YOUNGSTERS SKILLS TO RESIST PEER PRESSURE TO EXPERIMENT WITH DRUGS.

"WE NOW INCLUDE IN THESE TALKS AN EXPLANATION OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG ABUSE.

OF THE DANGERS

/"WE ARE