XN000022-1993-09-23 — Page 6

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1993

"MANY OF THE STUDENTS (60.4 PER CENT) ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD TAKEN THEIR FIRST DRINK OUT OF CURIOSITY. ALTHOUGH WE REALISE THAT IN MANY INSTANCES, DRINKING IS REGARDED AS A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR, EXCESSIVE DRINKING WILL RESULT IN DEPENDENCY, HE SAID.

YEAR.

11

THE COMMISSION FIRST DELIBERATED THE PROBLEM IN JANUARY THIS

"WE THEN DECIDED TO URGE THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS TO STEP UP PUBLICITY ON THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND TO WAIT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM.

"HAVING REVIEWED THE INITIAL SURVEY RESULTS, THE COMMISSION AGREED THAT A SMALL WORKING GROUP SHOULD BE SET UP TO EXAMINE MEASURES TO TACKLE UNDERAGE DRINKING," MR LI SAID.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS INCLUDED A BAN ON THE SALE OF ALCOHOL то MINORS AND DEVELOPING A CONTINUOUS AND CO-ORDINATED PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN AGAINST ALCOHOL ABUSE.

MR LI OBSERVED THAT THE BAN ON THE SALE OF ALCOHOL ΤΟ MINORS HAD BEEN EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED IN MANY WESTERN COUNTRIES.

BUT HE RECKONED THAT THIS WOULD INVOLVE A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT POLICY IN HONG KONG.

"FOR THIS REASON, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE COMMISSION TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON A POLICY DECISION."

COMMISSION, MEMBERS ALSO

AT LAST THURSDAY'S MEETING OF THE EXAMINED THE GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO YOUNG SUMMER JOB-SEEKERS.

"THE COMMISSION IS GLAD TO NOTE THAT IN THE COMING

YEAR, THE

LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL ORGANISE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMMES FOR THE SCHOOL CAREERS MASTERS.

門

SAID.

THESE PROGRAMMES WILL HELP TO EDUCATE SUMMER JOB-SEEKERS,

HE

HOWEVER, MR LI POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS VIRTUALLY VERY LIMITED INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER AND AGE OF STUDENTS WHO TOOK UP SUMMER JOBS,

"TO ASCERTAIN THE SIZE OF THE SUMMER JOB-SEEKERS, THE COMMISSION WILL ASK THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS TO COVER THIS ASPECT IN THEIR GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY.

AN INDICATION OF THE NUMBER OF THE SUMMER JOB-SEEKERS AND THE AREAS IN WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED WILL HELP THE ADMINISTRATION ASSESS WHETHER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON SUMMER JOB GUIDANCE IS NECESSARY, MR LI SAID.

"WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SUBMITTED RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH ΤΟ BAN YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 18 TO WORK ON CONSTRUCTION SITES.

/"THE DEPARTMENT