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Close co-operation between different regions was vital in the fight against a drug problem that had no boundaries, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said today (July 13).
Speaking at the opening of a sharing session on the "Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Tripartite Anti-drug Activity", Mr Lee said great importance was attached to communication and co-ordination among Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong in respect of combating drug abuse.
"The three places will maintain close liaison and co-operation on areas relating to law enforcement, research, treatment and rehabilitation, and preventive education and publicity. The Tripartite Activity is now held for the fourth time, which shows the strong determination of the three places to clamp down on drugs.
"The war against drugs is a highly challenging task. With the concerted efforts of all parties concerned, we can anticipate positive results. Today's experience sharing session gives us a good opportunity to exchange our experiences with each other. We will be able to tackle the problem of drug abuse and save our young people from the scourge of drugs," Mr Lee said.
Attending the opening ceremony today were Chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics Dr Choi Yuen-wan, Chief Executive Officer, Office of Guangdong Provincial Narcotics Control Commission Mr Chen Shaobo, and President of Macao Social Welfare Institute Mr Ip Peng Kin.
In the one-day sharing session, Mr Chen, Mr Ip and the Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong, briefed more than 100 anti-drug workers from the three places on the latest drug situation and anti-drug work. The participants' sharing covered the latest developments in preventive work. Hong Kong representatives gave a report on the research results of "Involving Parents in Anti-drug Work". Guangdong representatives gave a briefing on the integration programme of Zhaoqing Municipality, while Macao representatives told attendees how they had improved and promoted their rehabilitation system.
Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong jointly organised the tripartite anti-drug activity in 2001, 2003 and 2004 to improve communication and strengthen co-operation among the three places. The activity was organised in the form of seminars, workshops and visits.
It was Hong Kong's turn to host the Fourth Tripartite Activity in 2006-07. In the form of an exchange programme, the activity enabled anti-drug workers from the Government and non-government organisations to focus on practical co-operation.
The exchange programme was held during December, 2006, and January this year. Participants from three places joined the five-day programme separately held in Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong. They saw the work of the Government and treatment and rehabilitation institutes. They were able to understand the underlying philosophies, monitoring mechanism, daily operations and services of the departments or centres concerned.
In Hong Kong, the participants had a chance to see the work of government departments - the Narcotics Division, the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police and the Customs Drug Investigation Bureau. They learned more about the philosophies and mechanism involved in the control of psychotropic drugs and narcotic analgesics.
In Macao, the participants were briefed on preventive education and publicity work, as well as the treatment and rehabilitation mode. They also visited out-patient and residential treatment services.
In Guangdong, the participants visited services provided for voluntary abusers, drug detention centres, rehabilitation programmes for those who had completed treatment processes, aftercare service with counselling for ex-abusers.
Ends/Friday, July 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:46
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