Hong Kong Commissioner for Narcotics Clarie Lo stressed Monday that although the drug abuse problem was contained in 2002, there would be no let up in the efforts to fight against drugs.
At a press conference to issue a TV documentary series entitled Anti-drugs Special II, Lo said preventive education and publicity measures would continue to be enhanced to tackle the problem.
Sponsored by Beat Drugs Fund, the TV series was produced by Radio Television Hong Kong. The TV series will be premiered Tuesday to arouse public awareness on the harmful effects of drug abuse.
The TV program Anti-drugs Special II, which is 9-episode a docu-drama series on adapted cases of rehabilitated drug abusers, will be screened on TVB Jade Channel from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Tuesdays between Feb. 25 and April 22.
Apart from highlighting the harmful effects of drug abuse, the program also reminds people, especially the young generation, of the serious consequences of drug trafficking.
Lo said there were a total of 17,868 drug abusers reported to the Central Registry of Drug Abuse in 2002, representing a drop of3.5 percent as compared to 18,511 recorded in 2001.
The number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 also recorded a decrease, from 3,902 in 2001 to 2,968 in 2002, a decrease of 23.9 percent.
Highlighting anti-drug initiatives in the coming year, Lo said the second Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Conference on Policy to Tackle Drug Abuse and Trafficking held last week in Zhongshan City of Guangdong Province had resulted in a number of constructive suggestions in enhancing cooperation between the three places to fight drugs.
She said: "We would continue strengthening the united front with the Chinese mainland and Macao authorities in combating cross-boundary drug abuse and trafficking."
On preventive education and publicity, Lo said the anti-drug volunteer scheme would be further promoted to recruit more members of the public as well as public and commercial organizations in forging partnership with all sectors of the community in the fight against drugs.
Lo pointed out that in collaboration with other government departments and non-government organizations, the third Three-Year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services would be drawn up this year and job skill training for rehabilitated drug abusers would be strengthened to facilitate their reintegration into society.
This is the second series of the TV documentary. The first series, funded by the Action Committee Against Narcotics, was produced and aired in 1999.
(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2003)
