XN000022-1995-03-04 — Page 2

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Anti-drug summit meeting to call for community joint effort

The Governor's Summit Meeting on Drugs is to plan a community-wide education and support effort to try to halt the growing trend in drug abuse by young people, the Commissioner for Narcotics, Mr Alasdair Sinclair, said today (Saturday).

Speaking at the opening of the Yau Tsim District 94-95 Fight Crime cum Anti- Narcotics Carnival at Kowloon Park, the Commissioner said the summit, to be held next Monday (March 6), would provide a stimulus to the work already being undertaken in the area.

"It will raise awareness of the seriousness of the issue. It will improve understanding of the nature of the problem, the ways it is being tackled, and the contribution individuals can make to reducing it," Mr Sinclair said. "It will initiate new thinking on what can be done to prevent young people abusing drugs," he added.

The summit will probe four different aspects, namely law enforcement, preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation, and research.

"Nineteen speakers of authority will contribute their experience. There will be time for open discussion of each topic to collect a wider range of views and advice," the Commissioner said.

About 250 people will take part in the summit. They include members of the Legislative Council, District Boards, District Fight Crime Committees, senior Government officials, members of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, and representatives of voluntary agencies, the education sector, social welfare and youth organisations.

Mr Sinclair noted that on-going efforts in preventive education and publicity were made by the Narcotics Division throughout the year.

"Take March for example. There will be 47 talks to school children at all levels from Primary Six upwards, three drug education workshops for trainee teachers, and a seminar on drug abuse among adolescents for social workers and student social workers," he said.

There will also be a television show on March 10, two exhibitions in public housing estates, and a huge drawing at Victoria Park on March 19, he added.

End/Saturday, March 4, 1995