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Second quarterly progress report on anti-drug actions

The Government is making steady progress on the two action plans which arose from the Drugs Summit chaired by the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten, in March this year, according to the second quarterly progress report released today (Wednesday).

The Governor, at the 27th Annual Dinner of the Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry this evening, said the latest figure of newly-reported young drug abusers had shown an encouraging sign since the summit meeting. In the first six months of this year, the number was 1,100, significantly down from 1,600 in the same period last year.

The Governor however stressed the importance of further efforts in tackling the problem of drug abuse among the youth.

"A new sense of purpose, of commitment and co-ordination is required if we are to treat the bacillus of abuse to which young people are exposed and against which their immune systems are poorly prepared," Mr Patten said.

"Together we can beat drugs, but we still have much to do together," he added.

The Governor gave some examples of the progress of the two action plans:

* increased the maximum penalties for offences of illegal or improper sale of

drugs;

* recruited extra pharmacists;

* reconvened a working group by the Hong Kong Medical Council to examine new measures to regulate the prescription and dispensing of dangerous drugs by doctors;

* launched a pilot scheme to develop and implement drug education courses in

schools;

* expanding education and life skills training for teachers;

* set up a pilot project to give guidance and help to parents; and