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As Christmas and New Year are drawing near, the Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau and the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) have stepped up their anti-drug publicity efforts, including the anti-drug drama and publicity activity in Sham Shui Po held today (December 11) to promote anti-drug messages.
An anti-drug drama performance, jointly produced by the ND, ACAN and Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 2 (RTHK 2), was staged tonight at Queen Elizabeth Stadium, attracting about 1,300 members of the public to watch the show.
The anti-drug drama, one of the publicity initiatives of the 2014 territory-wide campaign against youth drug abuse, aimed to raise community awareness of the drug problem, enhance anti-drug knowledge and encourage people with drug problems to seek help early. It consisted of nine episodes of a radio drama with its ending being shown as a stage performance. The radio drama has been broadcast in the RTHK 2 radio programme "Crazy and Happy" since October. The audience was invited to choose the ending of the drama which was performed by RTHK 2 programme hosts on stage tonight.
The anti-drug radio drama and performance comprised four stories, featuring five main characters who had abused drugs for different reasons. They had the misconception that they could become a different person by taking drugs, which in fact was a means to escape from reality. They finally realised that only by quitting drugs and facing their problems positively could they restore order in their lives.
The ACAN Chairman, Professor Daniel Shek; the Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Erika Hui; and the Deputy Director of Broadcasting (Developments), Miss Leonia Tai, officiated at the ceremony tonight.
RTHK 2 is one of the partners of the ND and ACAN in organising the territory-wide anti-drug campaign against youth drug abuse in 2014. A series of programmes have been rolled out since the launch of the campaign in June. In addition to the anti-drug drama, the campaign has also included an anti-drug talk, a visit to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre and a series of radio programmes.
Another anti-drug activity was held in Sham Shui Po this afternoon.
Professor Shek, Mrs Hui and members of ACAN and its Sub-committee together with the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, Mr Jimmy Kwok; the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Fight Crime Committee, Dr Cheng Kam-chung; the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Benjamin Mok; and the Deputy District Commander of Sham Shui Po Police District, Ms Angela Ng, distributed publicity materials at Lei Cheng Uk Estate to share anti-drug messages with local residents, district people and shopkeepers in the vicinity.
Professor Shek said that although the local drug situation had continued to show a declining trend, the worsening situation of hidden drug abuse was a cause for concern. He encouraged people with drug problems to seek help as early as possible. The ND has provided the 186 186 24-hour helpline service and a WhatsApp and WeChat instant messaging service through 98 186 186 to provide professional assistance and support to people with drug problems.
Mrs Hui encouraged parents to show more care for their children and foster a good parent-child relationship in order to help them stay away from drugs. She also reminded the public, particularly youngsters, to remain vigilant, stand firm against drug temptation and say no to drugs during the festive season.
In addition, the ND will strengthen anti-drug publicity by placing advertisements in the Internet, in places frequented by youths such as karaoke establishments, and on the public transportation network. Anti-drug roving exhibitions and various anti-drug publicity activities in co-operation with local and district bodies will also be held.
Ends/Thursday, December 11, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:25
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