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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, officiated at the "Knock Drugs Out with Love" event today (June 25), raising the curtain on the Territory-wide Campaign Against Youth Drug Abuse this year.
In support of the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26 and to rally community support for the anti-drug cause, the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau and the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) hold a large-scale anti-drug event in June every year.
The event this year, entitled "Knock Drugs Out with Love", seeks to deliver the message that love and community care can help young people stay away from drugs. About 2 000 people from different sectors of the community, including youths and parents, attended the event today.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Tsang said the Government would continue to work together with different sectors of the community to fight against the drug problem and foster a drug-free and healthy culture for the next generation.
Mr Tsang said the enhanced efforts he announced in 2009 to combat the drug problem along the five strategic directions - community mobilisation, community support, drug testing, treatment and law enforcement, had yielded positive results.
"With the concerted efforts over the past few years, the local youth drug abuse situation has shown signs of easing," Mr Tsang said.
The total number of reported drug abusers and young drug abusers under 21 in 2010 decreased by 11% and 19% respectively compared to the figures in 2009. The number of reported drug abusers in the first quarter of 2011 also dropped substantially with a 13% decrease compared to the figure in 2010 while there is another notable drop of 40% in the number of reported young drug abusers under 21.
Albeit that the anti-drug efforts had yielded certain good results, Mr Tsang stressed that the anti-drug work should be kept up.
He said, "We still have a long way to go before the battle is over. We must stay vigilant."
Mr Tsang called on young people to show courage when faced with difficulties, adding that their families, the community and the Government would always be prepared to support them. Youths were not alone in their fight against drugs. He also urged them to be proactive in caring for and helping their friends in need and to spread the positive energy.
Mr Tsang was thankful to different sectors of the community which had all along supported the anti-drug cause. "Compared to a lot of developed regions, the youth drug problem in Hong Kong is relatively under control. Your hard work has helped the 'Say no to drugs' message take root in the community, in school and in the family," he said.
At the event today, singer MC Jin performed the theme song "Drugs? No Way!", which he composed specially for the event. The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre staged an interactive drama, with participation from the young audience.
New anti-drug TV Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) on the harm of abusing ice and cocaine, and an appeal for public support and acceptance of drug treatment facilities, were premiered at the ceremony. The APIs started to be broadcast by TV and radio stations today.
Before the end of the ceremony, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, together with other guests, led the audience in chanting an anti-drug slogan to demonstrate their determination to fight drugs.
After the ceremony today, a series of community-wide preventive education and publicity activities will be launched. In addition to the new TV and Radio APIs and posters, advertisements will be broadcast and displayed on the public transportation network. A number of giant wall banners will be mounted at various government premises.
The Government will also make use of the social media and online platforms, including the launch of an anti-drug portal and interactive webpisodes, to publicise anti-drug messages. Anti-drug seminars will be organised and advertisements at karaoke establishments, cyber cafes and upstairs bars will be stepped up to spread the anti-drug message.
A number of territory-wide and district anti-drug programmes sponsored by the Beat Drugs Fund will be held. The 18 District Offices will also launch a series of activities with funding support from the Community Programme Against Youth Drug Abuse.
In addition to Mr Tsang and Mr Lee, other officiating guests at the event included the ACAN Chairman, Professor Daniel Shek; the Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong; the Chairman of the ACAN Sub-committee on Preventive Education and Publicity, Ms Scarlett Pong; and the Chairman of the ACAN Sub-committee on Treatment and Rehabilitation, Dr Ben Cheung.
Ends/Saturday, June 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 17:47
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