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The proposed compulsory drug testing of people suspected of having taken dangerous drugs is mainly aimed at early identification of drug abusers for treatment and rehabilitation, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee said in Singapore today (March 18).
At a meeting with the Director of Singaporeˇ¦s Central Narcotics Bureau, Mr Ng Seng Liang, Mr Lee said the Administration would conduct a consultation later in the year to invite public views on details of the drug testing proposals.
Mr Lee told the Singaporean officials that Hong Kong had a zero tolerance approach to drug abuse.
"The significant increase in the number of young people abusing drugs has become a serious concern in Hong Kong in recent years and a more effective tool has to be found to help tackle the problem," he said.
"We hope to be able to draw some useful reference from the Singaporean experience when formulating detailed proposals for the public consultation," he said.
Mr Lee today saw a drug test on urine at the laboratory of the Central Narcotics Bureau.
Mr Lee and Mr Ng also reviewed the areas of co-operation between law enforcement agencies of the two sides and looked forward to even closer liaison and exchanges of information, intelligence and experiences in combatting the drug problem.
Mr Lee will continue his visit in Singapore tomorrow (March 19) visiting the police headquarters and the immigration checkpoints. He will return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening.
Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:07
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