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The mass media has a role to play in enhancing public awareness of the drug problem and publicising the harmful effects of psychotropic substance abuse, the Principle Assistant Secretary for Security (Narcotics), Ms Mimi Lee, said today (November 1).

Speaking at a press conference announcing details of a joint project by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) and Cable TV, Ms Lee said, "To curb the rising trend of psychotropic substance abuse among the young population, preventive education and publicity through the media is of utmost importance."

"This is the first time the Beat Drugs Fund has financed the production of a TV programme to increase the awareness of school children of the harmful effects of drug abuse," she added.

"It is our aim to educate young people on the harmful effects of drug abuse in their early age. This TV series is an effective medium in delivering the anti-drug message to our larger group," Ms Lee continued.

Supported by the Beat Drugs Fund at an amount of $500,000, the TV series will be broadcast on the children channel of Cable TV starting from November 2000.

The project comprises a series of 20 TV programmes and inter-school quizzes. The TV programmes will feature real drug cases reported by junior reporters, information on Drug InfoCentre and Hong Kong's drug treatment and rehabilitation agencies, live phone-in games and on-the-street question and answer sessions.

"About 200 schools have shown interest in participating in the inter-school quiz. The support from educational field to the anti-drug cause is encouraging," Ms Mimi Lee said.

"Our continual cooperation with the mass media has effectively delivered the anti-drug message to the public. We had cooperated with Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) to produce a series of anti-drug docu-drama based on real drug cases. In the Anti-drug Season 1999, Commercial Radio and RTHK produced anti-drug concerts and variety shows which attracted thousands of audiences. In March this year, a television show was produced and broadcast by Television Broadcasts (TVB) to pay tribute to the outstanding anti-drug workers who were selected under the Outstanding Anti-drug Workers Award Scheme," she said.

For the printed media, government's anti-drug strategy and message have been disseminated to the public through press conferences, media interviews, daily press enquiries, feature articles and press releases.

"A series of other preventive education and publicity measures are also in hand to educate young people on the harmful effects of psychotropic substance abuse. They include production of Announcement in the Public Interest (API) broadcast on television, radio and in cinema; production of posters, leaflets and postcards, as well as staging roving exhibitions to remind the public, especially young people, of the dangers and serious consequences of psychotropic substance abuse."

"To fight this long and uphill battle against drugs, cooperation with the government and the mass media is undoubtedly needed. It is hoped that with the concerted efforts of the whole community, we can move towards a 'drug-free' society for our younger generation."

End/Wednesday, November 1, 2000

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