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"We shall also provide additional resources aimed at reducing the demand for drugs. We shall be increasing the subventions to non-government organisations to help them meet the growing demand for their counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services.

"We shall also be establishing two additional residential treatment centres for young people who have fallen victim to opiate abuse. And there will be a new counselling centre to help people break free of their addiction to psychotropic drugs.

"The education of these young people must not be forgotten. Like other youngsters, they need the skills and training to help them make their way in life.

"This is now being addressed through a new package of assistance which includes the offer of a monthly grant to every drug treatment and rehabilitation agency to help them provide education for their young clients. This should be of particular value to those religious agencies offering therapeutic services to drug abusers.

"We have also taken action to help young abusers to continue their education after leaving a residential treatment programme, for example by making it easier for them to re-enter the school system."

The Governor said by almost any standard of comparison, be it North America, Europe or our neighbours in Asia, Hong Kong was a law-abiding community.

"Our crime rates are strikingly low by the standards of the developed world, and there is a profound respect in the community for our Police Force and for the other disciplined services.

"Over the past three years, I am pleased to be able to report that we have made considerable progress in tackling the two areas of crime which have been of greatest public concern."

He said the rate of violent crime had declined by 11 per cent and the number of armed robberies had declined by a remarkable 61 per cent.

"Our streets and our other public places are now safer. But the picture is not entirely rosy.

"Despite our success in reducing the level of violent crime and the number of armed robberies, and despite the fact that there are now 800 more police officers on our streets than there were in 1992, the overall crime rate has actually increased by just under six per cent.