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The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, today (May 25) visited Tung Chung Catholic School. In a chat with students, he encouraged young people to actively take part in healthy activities, so they could build up ¡§positive energy¡¨ against the lure of drugs.
Mr Lee said there were many temptations in society and lots of information containing ¡§negative energy¡¨. As young people grew up, they could easily lose their direction. They might be tempted to abuse psychotropic drugs, which was something they should avoid at all costs.
Mr Lee reminded young people that it was sheer misconception that taking psychotropic drugs could help solve problems. ¡§Some young people think that these illicit drugs can help them escape from their family and growth problems. Or they may think that taking drugs is one of their choices. In fact, drug pushers may be among their ¡¥friends¡¦ and they may use various means to lure them to try drugs. Young people should know these ¡¥friends¡¦ are not real friends,¡¨ Mr Lee said.
He also reminded young people that abusing psychotropic drugs could ruin their health. For instance, ketamine abuse could damage the central nerve system and result in impaired long-term memory and cognitive difficulties. Drug abuse itself was a criminal offence; drug trafficking was an even more serious crime.
Mr Lee was pleased to learn that a healthy school policy was being implemented at Tung Chung Catholic School. A number of preventive drug education activities were organised this academic year including inviting Tung Wah Group of Hospitals CROSS Centre and Life Education Activity Programme to give anti-drug talks in schools; arranging students to participate in anti-drug workshops provided by Kwai Chung Hospital; joining an anti-drug programme organised by Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Service Centre and the Lantau District of Hong Kong Police Force; and arranging teachers to participate in anti-drug training run by the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong.
¡§School life is crucial to the development of young people. It has tremendous influence on their values and behaviour. The Education Bureau has established a dedicated anti-drug education team to spearhead the healthy school policy in full swing,¡¨ Mr Lee said.
Mr Lee also visited the Home Economics Room to see how students were learning to make rice dumplings for the Dragon Boat Festival. The rice dumplings will be a gift to their family members and friends to celebrate the festival.
Before Mr Lee finished the visit, he watched the passing-out parade practice of the school Red Cross team.
Ends/Monday, May 25, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:18
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