ENG-2016 — Page 333

16

Public Order

The division also works with the Education Bureau to support schools in conducting drug education programmes for students and to provide professional training for school personnel, equipping them with the drug knowledge and skills to identify and offer early help to at-risk students. In view of the encouraging response, the division continued interactive drama education programmes for students at primary 3 to 6 as an additional and interesting means of disseminating anti-drug messages.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre is a focal point for promoting anti-drug education. Its visitors include students, youth groups, district bodies, community organisations, overseas delegations, parent-teacher associations and uniformed groups. The centre launched a new series targeting young people in 2016, inviting successful young personalities to share their stories and work with young audiences to encourage a healthy and drug-free life.

The Healthy School Programme with a Drug Testing Component is a school-based preventive education initiative designed to strengthen students' resolve in refusing drugs and to foster a drug-free campus. In the 2016-17 school year, 122 secondary schools, partnered with NGOs, implemented the programme.

Drug Testing

The government has also been in talks with stakeholders since the issue of a consultation conclusion report on a Rescue Drug Testing Scheme. The objective is to identify drug abusers as early as possible so they can receive timely counselling and treatment.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

A variety of treatment and rehabilitation services is available to drug abusers with different needs. Major services include a compulsory treatment programme conducted by the Correctional Services Department, voluntary residential programmes run by NGOs in 38 centres, a voluntary methadone outpatient treatment programme operated by the Department of Health, substance abuse clinics at all seven hospital clusters of the Hospital Authority, and 11 counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers and two centres for drug counselling run by NGOs.

A Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong, issued in 2015, sets out the priorities and strategies covering 2015 to 2017 and provides direction for anti-drug service providers to review and develop their action plans.

Legislation and Enforcement

The division and relevant departments monitor the changing drug scene closely and review the laws regularly to meet any emerging threat. In 2016, the substances Tapentadol and AH- 7921 were brought under the control of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The police and the Customs and Excise Department take action against drug crimes, seizing 1,412kg and 42,004 tablets of major types of drugs and arresting 4,734 people for drug-related offences in 2016.

271