ENG-2008 — Page 380

312 Public Order

healthy school policy that contains anti-drug elements. The ND and the EDB organised a seminar in July for some 500 school heads to facilitate exchange of experiences in implementing anti-drug initiatives in schools. Two seminars were held in December to bring teachers and social workers of primary and secondary schools up to date the know-how and educational programmes for combating drugs abuse.

Structured professional training for school personnel started in the 2008-09 school year. This included on-site training programmes for class and subject teachers and two-day advanced training for school management staff, including guidance and discipline teachers.

The ND also worked with the EDB during the year to extend the coverage of the drug education programme for primary four to six students as well as international schools and schools with non-Chinese speaking students.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre continued to serve as a platform for promoting anti-drug messages among different sectors of the community. During the year, 26 030 visitors comprising 11 937 students; 3 110 members of youth groups, community organisations, drug treatment and rehabilitation centres and parent-teacher associations; 435 groups and 7 009 walk-in visitors, visited the centre. The ND's website was also updated.

A two-year territory-wide campaign against youth drug abuse, carrying the theme 'No Drugs, No Regrets. Not Now, Not Ever' was launched on June 28. Intensive publicity initiatives followed, including an anti-drug theme song, new Announcements in the Public Interest targeting different audiences, posters, large outdoor banners, advertisements at public transport stations, SMS messages on mobile phones and promotion on the internet. A new anti-drug leaflet targeting parents was sent to over two million households in July.

District and community organisations, including the District Fight Crime Committees and various NGOs organised about 100 district-based activities, including talks and carnivals to drive home the anti-drug message.

The ACAN and the ND also launched two major anti-drug projects during the year: an anti-drug short-film competition held with the Government's Youth Portal (www.youth.gov.hk) and a drama training and production programme co-organised with a radio station.

Changing the Chinese nomenclature of psychotropic substance abuse was a main feature of the publicity campaign. After extensive consultation, the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse recommended gradually replacing the Chinese term with '**' to correct a common misconception, especially among young people, that psychotropic substances are not harmful or addictive.

Drug Abuse, Statistics and Trends

Statistics on drug abuse are compiled by the Central Registry of Drug Abuse. It collates information about drug abusers obtained from a wide network of reporting agencies, including law enforcement departments, treatment and welfare agencies, hospitals and clinics.