ENG-1991 — Page 194

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HEALTH

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centre for up to 380 men on the island of Shek Kwu Chau, and one for up to 40 women at Sha Tin. Linked to these centres are three intake units, five regional social service centres, six halfway houses, an employment placement office and a clinic which provides pre-admission medical examination, counselling and detoxification services, urine analysis and post-discharge medical care.

A compulsory in-patient treatment programme is operated by the Correctional Services Department under the Drug Addiction Treatment Centres Ordinance. The department runs two addiction treatment centres, one for up to 704 males on the island of Hei Ling Chau and the other for 100 females at Tai Lam Chung. These treatment programmes range from 2 to 12 months, the actual period being determined by the inmate's progress and the likelihood of continued abstinence from drugs following release. All persons discharged are given one year of statutory after-care.

In 1991, the two voluntary treatment programmes and the Correctional Services Department's compulsory treatment programme admitted 13 300 addicts. On average, 14 500 addicts and ex-addicts were receiving some form of treatment, rehabilitation or after-care every day.

The counselling centre, PS33, set up in Tsim Sha Tsui in April 1988 to provide counselling and telephone advice for psychotropic substance abusers, handled 107 cases and 1 200 telephone and drop-in enquiries during the year. PS33 is operated by the Hong Kong Christian Service with financial support from the Lotteries Fund.

Preventive Education and Publicity

The government and the community continued their efforts in promoting anti-drug preventive education and publicity. Main themes of the publicity campaign in 1991 were similar to those for 1990 - to encourage people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and say 'no' to all drugs.

Six district campaigns were held involving the community through carnivals, variety shows, concerts, competitions and exhibitions.

The Narcotics Division's school talks team gave 203 drug education talks to 78 000 students in 114 secondary schools and technical institutes throughout the territory. Talks were also organised for juvenile offenders at the boys' and girls' homes operated by the Social Welfare Department.

Drug education was provided for Vietnamese illegal immigrants, including audio/visual items and printed materials in Vietnamese.

A new drug education teaching kit, comprising two videos, follow-up exercises and lesson plans, was produced for distribution to all secondary schools, voluntary agencies and other interested parties. A guidebook outlining the medical and legal consequences of drug abuse was compiled as a reference for parents, teachers and social workers.

To mark the beginning of the United Nations Decade Against Drug Abuse (1991–2000), a large-scale exhibition was held in Sha Tin New Town Plaza in June. A total of 200 000 copies of a special souvenir postal cover were distributed to the public and the slogan Say NO to Drugs was applied as a post mark on all mails in June and July.

For the 11th year, the Youth Against Drugs Scheme provided encouragement and financial support to young people who wished to participate directly in the planning and implementation of anti-drugs projects. The 78-member ACAN Youth Volunteer Group took part in district campaigns and organised a number of community involvement