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The Government today (November 28) announced that the Chief Executive had appointed Professor Daniel Shek Tan-lei as Chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) as well as five new members and three new ex-officio members and had re-appointed 11 members.
Professor Shek and other members' terms of appointment will last for two years from January 2009 to the end of 2010.
The newly appointed members are Dr Cheng Chi-man, Dr Susan Fan Yun-sun, Ms Sylvia Siu Wing-yee, Ms So Lai-chun and Ms Sylvia Yau Siu-fee.
Having served as ACAN Chairman for six years, Dr Choi Yuen-wan will retire. So will Ms Scarlett Pong Oi-lan and Dr Wong Sing-wing, who have served as members for six years.
Paying special tribute to the retiring ACAN Chairman, the Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong said, "Dr Choi has served the anti-drug cause for many years with passion, vision and dedication. The Government has benefited greatly from his insightful and invaluable advice on the whole range of anti-drug policies and measures. I am deeply grateful for the inspiring leadership he has provided to ACAN and the untiring efforts he has made."
Thanking the two outgoing members, Ms Wong said, "Ms Pong and Dr Wong have shown unflinching commitment to the anti-drug cause. They have made relentless efforts and offered highly perceptive advice and their special expertise in the fight against drugs. Their outstanding contribution to the work of ACAN is highly appreciated."
The newly appointed Chairman, Professor Shek, is Professor of the Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is a renowned veteran in the anti-drug field. As Convenor of the Research Advisory Group on drugs, a member of the Family Council and the Governing Committee of the Beat Drugs Fund, and a past member of the Fight Crime Committee and the Commission on Youth, Professor Shek commands high esteem in the anti-drug field and has profound experience in community and welfare services.
Ms Wong said, "In view of the rising trend of drug abuse among young people, the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse led by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Wong Yan Lung, SC, reviewed the entire anti-drug strategy and released a report earlier this month. A series of comprehensive and long-term recommendations have been made to tackle the problem holistically and at root.
"ACAN has all along been our major partner in the anti-drug cause. The Government has strengthened and broadened ACAN's representation by enlisting new members from the education sector and parents associations to facilitate the planning and implementation of school-based and family-based anti-drug programmes as recommended in the task force report.
"New blood from the commercial and professional fields will also assist us to mobilise different sectors of the community in the fight against drugs. The Narcotics Division will continue to work with ACAN, other government departments and community stakeholders to take forward the task force recommendations."
Among the newly appointed ACAN members, Dr Cheng is a member of the Medical Council of Hong Kong and a council member of the Hong Kong Medical Association. Dr Fan is the Executive Director of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong. Ms Siu is a council member of the Law Society of Hong Kong and past President of the Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers. Ms So is currently Vice-chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council and Vice-president of the Kwun Tong Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations. Ms Yau is a member of the Fight Crime Committee and its Standing Committee on Young Offenders.
"The Chief Executive appoints the Director of Social Welfare, the Secretary for Education and the Commissioner of Police or their representatives as ex-officio members of ACAN to strengthen the collaboration of ACAN with other government departments," Ms Wong said.
ACAN is the Government's main advisory body on anti-drug matters. It was established in 1965. The full membership list (2009-2010) is as follows -
Professor Daniel Shek Tan-lei (chairman)
Mr Fred Li Wah-ming
Mr Jacob Chan Lai-sang
Mr Christopher Chan Yiu-chong
Dr Cheng Chi-man
Dr Ben Cheung Kin-leung
Dr Susan Fan Yun-sun
Dr Hui Pak-kwan
Mrs Justina Leung Ngai Mou-yin
Ms Shirley Marie Therese Loo
Dr Miro Ng Fei-yeung
Ms Sylvia Siu Wing-yee
Ms So Lai-chun
Ms Amy Blanche Tang Oi-lam
Professor Tsui Ming-sum
Ms Sylvia Yau Siu-fee
Mr Yeung Yiu-chung
Director, Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore
Secretary for Education or his representative
Commissioner of Police or his representative
Director of Health or his representative
Director of Social Welfare or his representative
Commissioner for Narcotics
Ends/Friday, November 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:10
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