ĦĦĦĦHONG KONG, Feb. 24 (Xinhuneta) -- 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.
ĦĦĦĦAt 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.
ĦĦĦĦSponsored 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.
ĦĦĦĦThe 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 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays between Feb. 25 and April
22.
ĦĦĦĦApart from highlighting the harmful effects of drug abuse, the program also
reminds people, especially the young generation, of the serious consequences of
drug trafficking.
ĦĦĦĦLo 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.
ĦĦĦĦThe number of reported drug abusers aged under 21 also recordeda decrease,
from 3,902 in 2001 to 2,968 in 2002, a decrease of 23.9 percent.
ĦĦĦĦHighlighting 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 Cityof Guangdong Province had resulted
in a number of constructive suggestions in enhancing cooperation between the
three places to fight drugs.
ĦĦĦĦShe said: "We would continue strengthening the united front with the
Chinese mainland and Macao authorities in combating cross-boundary drug abuse
and trafficking."
ĦĦĦĦOn preventive education and publicity, Lo said the anti-drug volunteer
scheme would be further promoted to recruit more membersof the public as well as
public and commercial organizations in forging partnership with all sectors of
the community in the fightagainst drugs.
ĦĦĦĦLo pointed out that in collaboration with other government departments and
non-government organizations, the third Three-YearPlan on Drug Treatment and
Rehabilitation Services would be drawn up this year and job skill training for
rehabilitated drug abuserswould be strengthened to facilitate their
reintegration into society.
ĦĦĦĦThis is the second series of the TV documentary. The first series, funded
by the Action Committee Against Narcotics, was produced and aired in 1999.
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