XN000022-1992-06-26 — Page 16

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1992

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THE SECRETARY EMPHASISED THAT THE POLICE FORCE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT CONTINUED TO TAKE VIGOROUS ACTION TO RESTRICT THE FLOW OF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCES INTO HONG KONG, RESULTING IN A NUMBER OF LARGE SEIZURES OF DRUGS DESTINED FOR HONG KONG, BUT PRINCIPALLY FOR TRANSIT ELSEWHERE.

WHILE TALKING ABOUT TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES, MR ASPREY SAID HONG KONG HAD, FOR MANY YEARS, ADOPTED A WIDE RANGE OF MEASURES, AIMED AT PROVIDING HELP TO THOSE WHO HAD FALLEN VICTIMS TO DRUG ABUSE.

HE SAID DRUG ABUSE WAS A CHRONICALLY RELAPSING DISEASE, AND, THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT MANY VICTIMS FOUND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO CONTINUE TREATMENT.

ΤΟ

"BUT WE MUST CONTINUE TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME FORWARD, IN THE HOPE THAT, ONE DAY, THEY WILL BE MOTIVATED SUFFICIENTLY STOP TAKING DRUGS AND TO BEGIN TO MAKE A

CONTRIBUTION SOCIETY," HE SAID.

TURNING TO PREVENTIVE

MEANINGFUL

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EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, MR ASPREY SAID: "OUR EFFORTS ARE AIMED AT EXPLAINING THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE AND ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE, IN PARTICULAR, TO SAY NO TO DRUGS.

"COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS ESSENTIAL IF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF DRUG PROBLEM AND OF THE ADVANTAGES OF A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE IS BE PROMOTED.

THE

ΤΟ

HE URGED YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP CREATE A DRUG-FREE HONG KONG, AND TO HELP OTHERS ΤΟ LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, FREE FROM THE SCOURGE OF DRUGS.

THE ANTI-DRUG EXHIBITION, ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS (ACAN), IS HELD AT METROPLAZA, KWAI FONG, UNTIL SUNDAY (JUNE 28).

SUPPLEMENTED BY VIDEOS, A WIDE RANGE OF PANEL DISPLAYS INTRODUCING HONG KONG'S OVERALL ANTI-DRUG WORK ARE ON STAGE.

DRUG-SMOKING

ALSO ON DISPLAY INCLUDE SEIZED DRUGS, PARAPHERNALIA AND DRUG CONCEALMENT DEVICES FROM BOTH THE POLICE AND CUSTOMS.

PUBLICITY MATERIALS, INCLUDING PAPER CLIPS AND BALLOONS, ARE DISTRIBUTED TO VISITORS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS.

THREE LOCAL POP SINGERS WILL HELP DISSEMINATE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE AT A MINI-CONCERT AT 2 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AND ON SUNDAY AT THE EXHIBITION VENUE.

CHOA,

A BUS

ALSO ATTENDING THE CEREMONY WERE ACAN CHAIRMAN, DR GERALD AND THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MS ANISSA WONG. PARADE WAS LAUNCHED AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO METROPLAZA.

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A TOTAL OF FOUR DOUBLE-DECKERS TOOK PART IN THE PARADE AND TRAVELLED AROUND THE TERRITORY WITH 50 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS DISSEMINATE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGES AND TO DISTRIBUTE PUBLICITY MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC.

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