ENG-2007 — Page 370

314 Public Order

anti-drug publicity campaigns, a public opinion survey on anti-drug publicity was conducted and completed in September.

International Action and Regional Cooperation

The Government continued to participate actively in international forums against drug abuse, drug trafficking and money laundering. Apart from fulfilling its obligations under the three major United Nations (UN) conventions concerning narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, it also maintains close links with the UN, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), and the World Customs Organisation, to ensure that Hong Kong's anti- drug and anti-money laundering work is in step with current international standards and requirements. The Government keeps in touch with various jurisdictions to share. Hong Kong's experience with them and to foster closer working ties. The Police Force and Customs and Excise Department have also established cooperative arrangements with their Mainland and overseas counterparts on intelligence exchange, joint operations and experience-sharing.

In March, representatives from the ND attended the 50th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs held in Vienna, as members of the Chinese delegation.

To promote better communication and cooperation among Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao in tackling drug abuse and trafficking, tripartite activities in the form of conference and thematic workshops were organised. Following the three- way exchange programme which was carried out between December 2006 and January 2007, a sharing session-cum-discussion forum was convened in July 2007 in Hong Kong. Representatives of the three places shared their experience gained during the exchange programme and their understanding of the latest approach to tackling the drugs problem.

The Beat Drugs Fund

To promote community efforts in tackling the drug abuse problem, the Government set up a Beat Drugs Fund in 1996 with a capital of $350 million. In 2007, a total of $8.66 million was allocated to 22 projects. These included a project that serves 'at-risk' working youth and occasional drug abusers and their family members with the support of family members of rehabilitated young drug abusers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals. Another project was funded for organising an inter-school anti-drug drama competition for 20 primary schools. The event was filmed for showing on television.

Volunteer Scheme

The Anti-drug Volunteer Group comprised 208 members of the public and 91 corporate or institution representatives in 2007. They participated in 19 anti-drug community and publicity activities, including district carnivals, exhibitions and seminars. The group organised a football competition in December to promote healthy lifestyle and the anti-drug message.