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The Consultancy for the review had merely observed that the two stations were facing increasing cost pressure in English language programming for their English Channels, and that the Government may wish to do something to recognise this.

The Panel was informed that the Administration's view is that, though the cost pressure on the English channels is recognised, there is no question of reducing the present English language requirement imposed on the two stations.

The economics of the stations and the profitability of their services should be taken as one single business entity rather than on individual channels.

However, the Administration would look further into the question of English language programming on local free-to-air stations in the context of the 1996 review to deregulate the broadcasting market upon expiry of Wharf Cable's exclusivity period.

End/Wednesday, January 4, 1995

Youth need family support to stay away from drugs

Young drug abusers may have lacked the attachments, the stimuli and the adult role models which earlier generations had experienced and parents are urged to make it clear to their children that drug taking is unacceptable.

The Commissioner for Narcotics, Mr Alasdair Sinclair, made these remarks at a luncheon meeting held by the Rotary Club of Kowloon Golden Mile today (Wednesday).

Speaking on the rapid increase in youth drug abuse in recent years, Mr Sinclair said the young people who were now abusing drugs belonged to the cohort which was born in the late 1970s, the beginning of Hong Kong's period of affluence. "With both parents typically out working, they may have lacked the attachments, the stimuli and the adult role models which earlier generation had experienced, notwithstanding their greater educational opportunities.

"In a recent paper, Dr Y W Cheung of The Chinese University has suggested that rapid social change in the domains of family, school and peers might have been conducive to the increase in drug use among adolescents," he said.

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