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The Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said today (December 20) a "firewall" must be built in the community to prevent drug abuse, and efforts to combat drug trafficking must be strengthened.
Mr Lee was speaking at the launch ceremony of "Firewall Project", an anti-drug programme co-organised by the Sha Tin District Fight Crime Committee and Sha Tin Junior Police Call Honorary Presidents Committee. He said drugs were like computer viruses which could easily intrude into computers and damage their operations if anti-virus software was not installed.
"The use of a 'firewall' is to stop the spread of fire and protect people from sparks. Similarly, 'firewall' software is used to maintain the normal operations of computers. Psychotropic substances, such as ketamine and ice, are not only as destructive as the flames, but also as vicious as computer viruses, and bring harmful effects to our bodies without being noticed," Mr Lee said.
He said that since there were no obvious withdrawal symptoms of addiction for psychotropic substance abusers, the harmful effects would emerge only after a period of time. Psychotropic substances were easy to carry and convenient to abusers, making them easily "hidden". As a result, many young lives were quietly and gradually destroyed.
The "Firewall Project" has enabled 120 "Anti-drug Angels" to build a solid anti-drug "firewall", which will not only provide protection to themselves, but also to their friends and classmates. They will help reveal the cruel facts about drugs.
Mr Lee said the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse led by the Secretary for Justice in November put forward more than 70 recommendations to tackle the drug problem in a long-term and comprehensive way. The Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau is taking follow-up actions on the recommendations.
Mr Lee said the Narcotics Division and Action Committee Against Narcotics were jointly working on the "Path Builders" Programme, which encouraged the business sector, professionals and individuals to help youths grow up in a healthy environment.
More than 140 enterprises, organisations and individuals have joined the programme since its launch in September. They have offered internship opportunities, vocational skills training, advertising spaces, mentorship, disseminating anti-drug messages to staff, organising healthy activities for youths and seminars.
Ends/Saturday, December 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:30
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