******************************************************
About 2,000 youths and members from different sectors of the community attended the "Fight Drugs Together" ceremony today (June 26) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai, kicking off the Territory-wide Campaign Against Youth Drug Abuse this year.
The ceremony, jointly organised by the Security Bureau's Narcotics Division (ND), the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) and Radio Television Hong Kong, aims to gather together anti-drug parties from different sectors of the community to reaffirm the pledge to fight drugs and to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, said in view of the seriousness of the youth drug abuse problem, the Government would spare no effort in promoting anti-drug work, including the allocation of additional resources and the enhancement of law enforcement.
He said, "Since 2008, the Administration has allocated additional funding of over $100 million for anti-drug measures, including enhancing different drug treatment and rehabilitation services; increasing the number of youth outreaching social workers, law enforcement officers, police school liaison officers and drug detector dogs; enhancing the anti-drug training of teachers and extending preventive education targeting primary and secondary students.
"To demonstrate our resolve to fight drugs, the Administration has injected $3 billion into the Beat Drugs Fund (BDF) this financial year to support different sectors of the community in their long term and persistent fight against drug abuse."
Mr Tang said preventive education work in the coming year would focus on strengthening youths' resistance to drugs, including high-risk youths, and the provision of more appropriate services for young people with drug abuse problems.
He said that apart from the multi-faceted efforts made by the Government, the participation and collaboration of different sectors of the community were essential in the anti-drug battle. He appealed to different sectors of the community to do their part in the fight against youth drug abuse.
He said, "Collaboration is the key to winning the drug battle. There is no panacea in anti-drug work. We are pleased that there are a lot of people who have been devoting their efforts to fighting drugs. I hope all of you can continue your support for the anti-drug cause, say 'No' to drugs and encourage your neighbours to resist drugs and help spread the message of 'Not Now. Not Ever' to the community, schools and every family."
Other officiating guests attending the ceremony included the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, the ACAN chairman, Professor Daniel Shek Tan-lei, the Director of Broadcasting, Mr Franklin Wong Wah-kay, the Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong, the Chairman of the ACAN Sub-committee on Preventive Education and Publicity, Ms Scarlett Pong Oi-lan, and the Chairman of the ACAN Sub-committee on Treatment and Rehabilitation, Dr Ben Cheung Kin-leung.
The ND and ACAN have partnered with RTHK to organise a core anti-drug programme, "Fight Drugs Together 2010" this year. In the ceremony, the organisers introduced the programme's various activities, including anti-drug radio drama series, anti-drug talks, a training camp and a theatrical version of an anti-drug pop song writing competition to encourage youths to stay away from drugs and cultivate positive healthy life attitudes.
Before the end of the ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, and other guests led the participants to make a pledge to "Say No to Drugs" to demonstrate their determination in the fight against drugs.
After today's ceremony, various publicity and promotional programmes will be launched, including TV and Radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) and posters, which will be broadcast and displayed from mid-July. The anti-drug APIs and related advertisements will be shown and placed in public transportation networks. A number of giant outdoor banners will be mounted at various government premises.
Anti-drug projects targeting young people will also be launched. They include the launching of an anti-drug portal, anti-drug computer games and comics. The Administration will also cooperate with cyber cafes and upstairs bars to promote anti-drug messages. Anti-drug messages will be publicised through the Internet, which is popular among youths. The BDF will also sponsor various territory-wide and district anti-drug activities so that youths can enjoy a drug-free summer vacation.
Members of different sectors of the community can contribute to the anti-drug cause through the "Path Builders" platform, an initiative launched by the ND and the ACAN, or make donations to the BDF to support anti-drug programmes organised by different organisations. For details, please visit the ND's website at www.nd.gov.hk.
Ends/Saturday, June 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:07
NNNN
