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A Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse, appointed by the Chief Executive and led by the Secretary for Justice, is expected to submit a report in October on long-term strategies to address the problem.
At a meeting of the Central and Western District Fight Crime Committee (DFCC) today (May 30), the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said the Government was very concerned about the youth drug abuse problem.
He said: "The task force has been actively exploring the problem from various angles over the past few months, with an aim to formulate comprehensive, long-term and sustainable strategies.
"The task force is conducting in-depth discussions on long-term strategies for combating the youth drug abuse problem and is expected to conclude its study and submit a report in October."
The Government has allocated additional funding of $53 million in 2008-09 for implementing the task force's short and medium-term measures.
Mr Lee said combating youth drug abuse was adopted as a key publicity theme of the Fight Crime Committee to complement the work of the task force. Various district fight crime committees will also organise district-based anti-drug activities to tie in with the territory-wide Campaign Against Youth Drug Abuse to be launched in June.
The Central and Western District Fight Crime Committee will also undertake more anti-drug activities. Anti-drug messages will be spread through talks, visits and sharing sessions involving rehabilitated ex-drug users. Such activities will be extended to cover non-Chinese primary and secondary students.
Apart from enhanced anti-drug publicity, Mr Lee said, Police would also step up enforcement action. Different police districts would continue to closely monitor the trend of drug-related activities in their area and increase beat patrols. They will also use the established intelligence network to monitor hot spots for youth drug activities and take enforcement action as considered necessary.
The crime rate has remained low in Central and Western District. The crimes involved are generally minor in nature such as shop thefts, shoplifting, miscellaneous thefts and burglaries. Most of these cases are attributable to negligence on the part of the victims.
Mr Lee thanked Central and Western DFCC members for their continuous efforts in monitoring the crime situation in the district and putting forward practical suggestions on crime prevention and ways to fight crime.
Ends/Friday, May 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:19
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