XN000022-1994-11-16 — Page 54

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994

30

VIGOROUS ACTION TO AVERT YOUTH DRUG OFFENCES

ASPREY, IN

FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON JAMES TO KUN-SUN AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

QUESTION: IN

REPLY:

WILL

THE

VIEW OF

OF THE INCREASING NUMBER

YOUNGSTERS BEING INVOLVED IN DRUG OFFENCES IN RECENT YEARS, GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL :

(A) WHAT

(B)

RECOMMENDATIONS WILL THE STANDING COMMITTEE YOUNG OFFENDERS MAKE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM; AND

ON

WHETHER CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO ALLOCATING MORE RESOURCES TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, INCLUDING GOSPEL DRUG REHABILITATION GROUPS, IN ORDER TO ASSIST THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR WORK OF PREVENTING YOUNGSTERS FROM ABUSING DRUGS AND TREATMENT OF YOUNG DRUG ABUSERS, THUS EXPANDING THE NETWORK OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS AREA?

MR PRESIDENT,

(A)

THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON YOUNG OFFENDERS WILL SHORTLY CONSIDER THIS PROBLEM AND THE RESULTS OF A RESEARCH PROJECT CONDUCTED BY THE SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ON SOCIAL CAUSES OF JUVENILE CRIME.

VIGOROUS ACTION IS ALREADY BEING TAKEN то PREVENT YOUNGSTERS FROM INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG OFFENCES. THE POLICE TARGET DRUG BLACKSPOTS WHICH YOUNG DRUG ABUSERS FREQUENT. THEY HAVE ALSO ENHANCED THE SCHOOL LIAISON NETWORK TO IDENTIFY DRUG PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS.

(B)

FOR

OF

RESOURCES

THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALLOCATED TO SEVERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. THE LEVEL OF ALLOCATIONS AND THE SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE KEPT UNDER REVIEW, AND CHANGES MADE AS NECESSARY IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED. IN ADDITION, MANY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES NOT RECEIVING SUBVENTIONS ARE NEVERTHELESS HELPED IN OTHER WAYS: THEY ARE ASSISTED WITH ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORTED IN RAISING FUNDS FROM CHARITABLE SOURCES.

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