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The following is issued on behalf of the Secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association:
Organisations and individuals may, from tomorrow (February 16) until March 31, apply for grants from the Beat Drugs Fund to carry out anti-drug projects.
The fund aims to promote anti-drug activities which can help reduce the problem of drug abuse, particularly among the young, and to promote community-wide efforts and programmes in the campaign against drug abuse in Hong Kong.
For the 2008/09 funding exercise, priority consideration will be given to preventive education and publicity projects in support of a territory-wide campaign against youth drug abuse. Projects to help curb the problem of cross-boundary drug abuse will also be encouraged.
New measures/approaches in tackling the problem of psychotropic substances abuse, as well as structured training for existing staff and graduates of treatment programmes in treatment and rehabilitation centre management, will be considered.
Precedence will also be given to projects supporting the Fourth Three-year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong (2006-2008), and to medical support programmes for centres or agencies providing treatment and rehabilitation services.
On the research front, in-depth studies on the beliefs of young people, in particular youths at risk, about psychotropic substances, and effective ways to clarify their misunderstanding, as well as studies on drug abuse among ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, and the development of programmes and resource kits targeting ethnic minorities, will be given priority consideration.
Projects that reach out to youth online and identify and help "hidden youths" with drug abuse problems through the Internet and other media are also encouraged.
Grants disbursed by the fund will normally not exceed $3 million. The funding period will normally not exceed two years, except for projects that are regarded as exceptionally innovative, in which case the maximum grant can go up to $5 million and funding duration can last up to three years.
Application forms and guides to the funding exercise are now available on the website of the Narcotics Division, Security Bureau (www.nd.gov.hk/beat.htm). They can also be collected at the secretariat of the Beat Drugs Fund Association (30/F, High Block) and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre (Roof Floor, Low Block) at Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway; all Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department; and the District Social Welfare Offices of the Social Welfare Department.
Enquiries are welcome by phone at 2867 2737 or 2867 5916; by fax at 2810 1790; or via email to dkyma@sb.gov.hk or sbeon4@sb.gov.hk.
The Beat Drugs Fund was set up by the Government in 1996 with a capital base of $350 million to sponsor worthwhile community projects in the fight against drugs.
So far, 329 projects have been supported by the Beat DrugsĄ@Fund involving some $152.2 million. Of the funds approved, about $40 million has been granted for 66 treatment and rehabilitation projects, $93.8 million for 236 preventive education and publicity projects, $4.7 million for 10 research projects and $13.7 million for 17 mixed-type projects.
Ends/Friday, February 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:02
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