4 000 students pledge to create healthy school campus
Led by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, more than 4 000 secondary and primary students pledged to stand firm against drugs at the opening ceremony of the "Build a Healthy School Together" project on February 25.
The project is a two-year large-scale education and publicity programme to beat drug abuse by youth, organised by the Force and the Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan School Council with the assistance of community dignitaries, government departments, drug treatment and rehabilitation centres, community organisations and drama societies. Some 300 police volunteers will assist in carrying out the project. It is one of the Police anti-drug programmes engaging different sectors of the community.
About 90 000 students and 6 500 teachers from some 130 primary and secondary schools will participate in the project. Apart from exhibitions, interactive drama performances, anti-drug sharing sessions with police volunteers, eight e-learning packages have been produced for students to acquire online anti-drug knowledge in classroom.
Officiating at the ceremony, Mr Tsang said the project would enable students, teachers and parents to learn more about the harm of drug abuse and instil in young people a positive outlook on resisting drugs.
Police volunteers commended
Commending police volunteers for participating in the project, Mr Tsang said: "They use their own time to help with a meaningful project, including preparation for anti-drug dramas, liaison with schools and sharing of anti-drug information with students."
The Chief Executive also thanked the participating organisations for fulfilling the social responsibility of helping young people pursue healthy lifestyles, adding that anti-drug work would only succeed with the support of all sectors.
Other officiating guests included Project Steering Committee Advisors, Dr Lee Yuk-lun and Mr Ng Siu-keung; Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen; Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Tang Kam-moon; Chairman of the Action Committee against Narcotics, Prof Daniel Shek Tan-lei; Commissioner for Narcotics, Ms Sally Wong; Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, the Rev Dominic Chan; and Narcotics Bureau Chief Superintendent John Ribeiro.
Apart from game booths and Police Dog Unit performances, primary and secondary students sang the anti-drug theme songs, "Stand Firm" and "Stand by me Everyday", at the ceremony. The trailer of an online anti-drug video was also premiered at the ceremony.
Concluding the event, Mr Tsang together with the students said "No" to drugs to demonstrate their support for the anti-drug cause.
 The Chief Executive and other officiating
guests lead students in making a pledge to say 'No' to drugs |
 Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner
(Operations), the Chief Executive is pleased to see so many students
pitch in for the anti-drug project |
 Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Tang
Kam-moon thanks the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong,
the Rev Dominic Chan, for supporting the anti-drug project |
 A lot of thought has gone into designing
the activities that are able to catch youngsters' attention to
anti-drug messages |
 Many youngsters take part in a "Say No to
Drugs!" game |
 Many games are designed to disseminate
anti-drug messages |
 At the opening ceremony, more than 4 000
secondary and primary students vow to help create healthy school
campuses |