Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Lau and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):
 
Question:
 
     The Government statistics show that 128 young people aged under 21 were reported to have consumed "space oil drug" in the first quarter of this year, accounting for over 67 per cent of all reported cases. The youngest among them was just 12 years old. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the respective numbers of cases of young people possessing and consuming "space oil drug" received by the authorities in the past three years; the specific measures in place to assist them in drug treatment and rehabilitation, and the total number of young people who have quit "space oil drug" with such assistance to date;
 
(2) whether it will establish a regular mechanism for primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to handle cases of young people consuming "space oil drug", while strengthening training for frontline personnel, including teachers and social workers, in order to enhance their ability to identify, handle, and prevent cases of students consuming "space oil drug"; and
 
(3) given that the Government launched the Healthy School Programme some years ago to establish a healthy and drug-free culture in schools by organising personal growth activities and voluntary school drug testing, whether the authorities will step up the promotion of this programme in primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, so that teachers and social workers can have opportunities to identify those young people who consume "space oil drug" at an early stage and provide them with immediate and appropriate assistance?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government attaches great importance to combating the emerging "space oil drug" problem. A number of targeted measures have been launched on multiple fronts to curb the use of "space oil drug", which often illegally contains the anesthetic etomidate. Among these measures, we have already listed etomidate and its three analogues as dangerous drugs through legislation, and have recently proposed listing other analogues as dangerous drugs as well. Since the listing of etomidate as a dangerous drug on February 14, 2025, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have successfully stopped the supply of more than 220 000 drug-filled cartridges by the end of last month with a total of 405 persons arrested. Among those arrested, 153 were involved in trafficking dangerous drugs, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the arrests. Apart from legislation and law enforcement, the Government has also launched a number of publicity programmes to educate the public to stay away from "space oil drug" and raise awareness among young people of its serious harm.
 
     In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), replies to each of the Member's questions are as follows:
 
(1) The "space oil drug” has been gradually on the rise since 2023. From 2023 to May 31, 2025, the LEAs arrested a total of 566 persons for unlawful possession of etomidate, and among them, 134 persons or about 20 per cent were young people aged below 21. Regarding the number of abusers, data from the Central Registry of Drug Abuse show that from 2023 to May 31, 2025, there were 493 recorded "space oil drug" abusers, of whom 356 persons, or about 70 per cent, were young people aged below 21. These young people are being followed up by relevant drug treatment institutions or outreaching social work teams with a view to helping them to quit drugs. Indeed, drug treatment and rehabilitation services are an integral part of the Government's anti-drug strategy. For young people addicted to "space oil drug", drug treatment and rehabilitation agencies (e.g. Counselling Centres for Psychotropic Substance Abusers (CCPSAs)) provide education programmes, vocational training, and counselling on careers and studies, tailored to their personal growth stages, learning needs and interests. Anti-drug workers also provide young people with essential emotional support and mental health counselling.
 
(2) Schools are key partners in the Government's anti-drug efforts. The Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau (SB), in collaboration with the EDB, has established a regular mechanism for all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong to handle drug-related incidents, including cases involving the use of "space oil drug". The EDB has also issued guidelines to schools in this regard. To assist schools in handling such cases, the ND of the SB has been working with non-governmental organisations to provide anti-drug professional training for frontline staff, including teachers and social workers, to enhance their capacity in identifying, handling and preventing "space oil drug" abuse cases among students.
 
(3) After years of implementation, the Healthy School Programme spearheaded by the ND has been proven capable of strengthening students' resolve to stay away from drugs, thereby fostering an anti-drug culture in schools. In light of the latest drug scene, the ND plans to include etomidate testing in its voluntary school drug testing, targeting its introduction within the next school year. The ND has also required schools to incorporate knowledge on the prevention of "space oil drug" into the activities organised under the Programme, including understanding the harm of "space oil drug", the serious consequences of committing relevant offences, and the skills to refuse "space oil drug". While promoting the Healthy School Programme, the ND is also implementing the Beat Drugs with Sports Programme to help young people stay away from "space oil drug" and other drugs through sports activities. About 60 per cent of all secondary schools in Hong Kong have participated in these two anti-drug programmes.
 
     Apart from the Healthy School Programme and the Beat Drugs with Sports Programme just mentioned, the ND has been promoting a healthy and drug‑free school culture through enhanced cross‑disciplinary and cross‑sectoral collaboration with various anti-drug service units and welfare service units. This collaboration provides teachers and social workers with opportunities to identify young people who have taken "space oil drug" at an early stage, and offer timely and appropriate assistance. In this regard, the ND arranges for the CCPSAs to reach out to schools and organise anti-drug school talks, including providing training for teachers and social workers, and educating students about the harm of "space oil drug". Since 2024, over 170 schools with a total of 38 000 students, teachers and social workers have participated in these talks. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre will also organise a new round of interactive activities in July 2025 for candidates of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination and senior secondary school students. These activities aim to provide students with a stress-relieving occasion and reinforce their resistance against "space oil drug". The ND also conducts free drama tours for schools to educate upper primary students in an interactive manner on the harm of "space oil drug". Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Police Force has staged a new play, "Interactive Anti-Drug Theatre - A Space Study Adventure", to safeguard schools from the emerging "space oil drug". Finally, on parental education, the ND works closely with the Committee on Home-School Co-operation and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations in various districts to provide parents and young people with timely and appropriate assistance related to "space oil drug". 
 
     President, the Government has taken various measures to curb "space oil drug". We have strategies in place to address the situation, ranging from legislation and law enforcement to treatment and rehabilitation. We will humbly listen to the views of the community, adjust our strategies as situation changes, and proactively adopt innovative and targeted approaches to combat drug harm together with the public.
 
     Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Issued at HKT 14:35

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