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In response to media enquiries about the Islands District Council¡¦s discussion today (June 15) on the proposal for reprovisioning the centre-cum-school of the Christian Zheng Sheng Association (CZSA), a spokesperson from Narcotics Division of Security Bureau gives the following reply:
The Government appreciates the various concerns raised by District Council Members. We will continue to consult the local community, in a bid to explain the reasons behind the proposal and allay their concerns.
The Government attaches equal importance to the reduction of both drug supply and drug demand. Since the release of the report of the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse led by the Secretary for Justice last November, the Government is now working in full swing to implement a reinvigorated, comprehensive anti-drug policy. The policy covers preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, legislation and law enforcement, external cooperation, and research. In addition to the five-pronged strategy, we also advocate a caring culture for youngsters. We would like to garner the support from all sectors of the community to foster healthy development of the youth so that they can stay away from drugs.
To reduce the drug supply, the Police have strengthened law enforcement actions and patrol on the Internet, and the Customs and Excise Department have increased drug detection dogs services at boundary control points. Law enforcement agencies have also been working closely with the Department of Justice to seek enhanced sentencing for drug-related offenders in appropriate cases, with a view to giving adequate deterrent effect. We also strengthen external cooperation to fight the global drug problems, particularly cross-boundary drug abuse. In this regard, we have discussed with the Mainland authorities arrangements for the sharing of information on youngsters caught abusing drugs in the Mainland, as well as repatriation of those who have been administratively detained by the Mainland.
To reduce the drug demand, preventive education and publicity plays a crucial role. Narcotics Division of Security Bureau will launch a "No Drugs No Regrets" Pledge Ceremony on June 21, taking the territory-wide anti-drug campaign to a new height.
At the same time, we have introduced a series of enhancement measures to the downstream drug treatment and rehabilitation services. These include adding outreaching social workers, opening more counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers and substance abuse clinics, as well as subventing more places of drug treatment and rehabilitation centres.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an important role in drug treatment and rehabilitation services. Currently, all of the 39 drug treatment and rehabilitation centres are run by these NGOs. Some of them receive subvention from the Government.
CZSA is one of our partners. CZSA is at the moment the only NGO in Hong Kong that operates a centre and a school simultaneously at the same location, providing counselling and educational services for ex-drug abusers, to help them to turn a new leaf.
Over the years, the services which CZSA provided for young drug abusers at school age have proven to be effective. Many youngsters who have received the services of CZSA, including those who are still undergoing the programmes have experienced profound changes in their lives.
The Government reiterates its support in principle for CZSA's proposal for relocation to the vacant premises of Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School. We believe that the proposal will not only speed up the reprovisioning of the centre-cum-school, but also increase the number of service places and provide effective assistance to youngsters who have fallen victims to drug abuse.
The Government believes that students of Christian Zheng Sheng College can be good neighbours of Mui Wo residents. We sincerely appeal to the community, including Mui Wo residents, to embrace and help youngsters who had once suffered from the scourge of drugs, so that they can have a conducive environment to start a new chapter of life and reintegrate into society.
Ends/Monday, June 15, 2009
Issued at HKT 22:24
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