ENG-2012 — Page 331

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Public Order

The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN), a non-statutory body, advises the Government on anti-drug strategies. Chaired by a non-official, ACAN comprises 17 non-official members in medical and health, media, legal and education, commercial and social service sectors and five official members (the Commissioner for Narcotics and representatives from the Education Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Department of Health and the Social Welfare Department). Under a reciprocal appointment arrangement between Singapore and Hong Kong, the Director of Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau also sits on the committee. ACAN has two subcommittees: on preventive education and publicity; and on treatment and rehabilitation.

Preventive Education and Publicity

The ND continued its preventive education and publicity initiatives under the themes 'No Drugs, No Regrets. Not Now, Not Ever' and 'Stand Firm! Knock Drugs Out!' to enhance public awareness of the harm caused by drugs and strengthen young people's resolve to refuse drugs. In 2012, two sets of Announcements in the Public Interest were launched to encourage drug abusers to seek help early and highlight the importance of parents and the public taking an active role in drug prevention, early identification and intervention against an increasingly serious problem of 'hidden' drug abuse. The '186 186' anti-drug hotline service was also enhanced to provide round-the-clock services manned by professional social workers. The ND promoted the anti-drug message through various media, including social media networks, mobile and on-line communication platforms, SMS messages and advertisements on the internet, on public transport and in karaoke clubs and bars.

The annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was marked by a large- scale anti-drug event at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sha Tin Racecourse on 22 June to rally community support for the anti-drug cause. The ND also continued to work with the Education Bureau to provide support for schools, including conducting drug education programmes for students, and providing structured professional training for school personnel to equip them with drug knowledge and practical skills to identify and offer early assistance to at-risk students. Various measures were implemented to enhance support for parents, including district-based seminars for parents, train-the-trainer sessions, in-depth programmes for social workers to provide support to parents and the publication of anti-drug educational materials.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre continued to be a focal point for promoting anti- drug education. In 2012, it received 30,000 visitors, including students, youth groups, district bodies, community organisations, overseas delegations, parent-teacher associations and uniformed groups.

Drug Testing

The Government has made vigorous efforts to foster an anti-drug culture in schools and help young people understand the evils of drugs and resist temptation.

Following the success of the Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in Tai Po District in the 2009- 10 and 2010-11 school years, the Government introduced the Healthy School Programme with a drug testing component in the 2011-12 school year as a sustained, territory-wide, initiative. Forty-four secondary schools and 12 NGOs participated in this school-based preventive

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