The "Hang Seng Bank - Help the Police Fight Youth Crime Competition 2008" was kicked off on March 17 to raise awareness of juvenile crime among young people, schools and social service agencies and to encourage them to help fight youth crime.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Commissioner Tang King-shing said that while the overall crime situation in Hong Kong remained stable last year, there was an increase in the number of young people arrested for serious narcotics offences. Among them, more than 90 per cent were involved in psychotropic drugs, a situation requiring close attention.

Mr Tang pointed out that the Force would work closely with the inter-departmental task force led by the Secretary for Justice and step up co-operation among Government departments in preventing and combating psychotropic drug abuse by young people. The Force would also enlist community support to make Hong Kong a safe, healthy and ideal environment for the growth of young people.

"We hope that by disseminating anti-drug messages in the competition, the public, in particular young people, will understand more about the consequences of drug abuse on society, families, friends and themselves, thereby making a more conscious effort to help Police fight crime," Mr Tang added.

The Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, Mr Raymond Or, and member of the Fight Crime Committee, Ms Sylvia Yau, also officiated at the launching ceremony.

Mr Or said: "Hang Seng is pleased to be sponsoring this competition for the eighth consecutive time. The competition has attracted a total of about 500,000 participants since 1994. As a committed corporate citizen, the Bank makes extensive efforts to enhance the well being of society. We hope this event will encourage young people to adopt a healthy and positive lifestyle and help them become responsible adults."

Ms Yau described the competition as a good platform for disseminating anti-crime and anti-drug messages to young people.

The biennial competition has been organised by the Force since 1975, and has been sponsored by Hang Seng Bank since 1994. The theme of this year is "Combating Psychotropic Drug Abuse Among Young People" to educate young people on the consequences of drug abuse.

Participants will be evaluated through a combination of web games, essay writing, tests in leadership skills and project presentations.

The competition is divided into categories of Primary Group (Primary 4-6), Junior Group (Form 1-3), Senior Group (Form 4-7) and Post Secondary Group, as well as a newly introduced youth service agency category. Winners will be awarded scholarships and will represent Hong Kong as fight crime ambassadors in an exchange tour to Australia in July.

Entry forms are available at Police Public Relations Branch (PPRB), Police Community Relations Offices, Junior Police Call clubs, District Offices and Hang Seng Bank branches (except outlets in MTR stations and the Lantau Airport Railway Station). The deadline for applications is April 19.

For enquiries, please contact PPRB on 2860-6143 or visit the competition website at http://www.hkpjpc.org.hk/fightcrime.

Commissioner Tang King-shing officiates at the launching ceremony with the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, Mr Raymond Or, and Fight Crime Committee member, Ms Sylvia Yau