XN000022-1995-10-14+15 — Page 4

- 3-

He said forty-five additional police posts had just been created in the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau and the Crime Intelligence Bureau, and 38 in the Narcotics Bureau. In the coming year, at least 200 more police officers would join front-line patrol duties.

"This will enhance the Police capability in the fight against crime, particularly in dealing with the triads and the drug problem at the division, district and regional levels," he said.

On the anti-drug front, Mr Lai said to add impetus to the current programmes, the Government aimed to establish a $350 million Beat Drugs Fund as a major new initiative to finance projects relating to drug abuse, preventive education, publicity, research, training, law enforcement, and treatment and rehabilitation.

"The Fund will provide substantial new resources to advance the aims of our 'Beat Drugs' campaign, and will enable many worthwhile projects to go ahead earlier without queuing up for funding in the normal annual resource allocation exercise," he said.

"We will in addition increase the subventions to non-government organisations to help them meet the growing demand for their counselling, treatment and rehabilitation services.

"Funds will also be made available to establish two new residential treatment centres for young opiate abusers, and a new counselling centre in the New Territories for young psychotropic substance abusers."

To meet the educational needs of young drug abusers while undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, Mr Lai said the Government was providing to each residential drug treatment and rehabilitation agency a new package of assistance, including a monthly grant to help them provide education for their young clients.

"We will also make it easier for those who leave a residential treatment programme to re-enter the school system," he said.

In response to the increase of female drug abusers, Mr Lai said the Government planned to carry out a research into the unique characteristics of female abusers, and the factors leading to their drug abuse, so as to help it to better focus its drug preventive and treatment programmes.