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Drug testing schemes recommended by the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse are aimed at identifying hidden young drug abusers and protecting them from the scourge of drugs, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee said today (November 23).
Speaking at the Launching Ceremony of Eastern District "Say NO to Drugs" and Fight Crime Telematch Day, Mr Lee said the problem of youth drug abuse had become more and more serious in recent years. The reported number of young drug abusers aged under 21 has increased by 34% in the three years ending 2007. The number has also risen by 22% in the first half of this year, compared with the same period last year. Half of the young drug abusers first took drugs at the age of 15 or under with the youngest aged only 11.
Facing this severe situation, the task force led by the Secretary for Justice recently put forward a series of long-term recommendations to tackle the problem. They include the introduction of drug testing at different levels, a healthy school policy with an anti-drug element, and the strengthened cooperation with the Mainland to combat cross-boundary drug abuse.
Mr Lee said, "We will commission research experts to devise possible school-based drug testing schemes for voluntary adoption by schools. We will strike a balance between protecting the privacy and interests of students, parents and schools, and at the same time encouraging adoption of the schemes by mainstream schools to provide useful assistance for young abusers."
He said the administration was also considering introducing new legislation to empower law enforcement agencies to require a person reasonably suspected of having taken drugs to undergo a drug test. The main purpose is to enable identification of young drug abusers with a view to providing assistance, rather than facilitating prosecution.
"We understand there are human rights and privacy concerns in the community. However, I must point out that young people are also entitled to grow up in a drug-free and healthy environment. This is their basic right. All sectors in the society should join together to forge such an environment.
"In response to the community's concern, we will work out the detailed proposals for public consultation," Mr Lee said.
The Commissioner for Narcotics will lead an inter-departmental working group to supervise, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the task force.
Ends/Sunday, November 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:02
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