Students stand firm against drugs
The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, witnessed the efforts made by some 1,000 students to resist drugs and build a drug-free campus at the closing ceremony of the "Build a Healthy School Together" project on December 11.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ng said the Government attached great importance to tackling the youth drug abuse problem. The Police proactively combat drug trafficking and the problem of juveniles tempted to drugs by criminals. "With the concerted efforts of different sectors of the community and the law enforcement agencies, youth drug abuse showed a declining trend in recent years. However, the Government will spare no effort in combatting drugs," he added.
Education and publicity for prevention of drug abuse are the key elements of the Government's multi-pronged anti-drug strategies. The project reflects the zero-tolerance attitude adopted by the Police and schools towards drug-related crimes.
Publicity programmes against drug abuse will be enhanced and law enforcement agencies will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against drug-related crimes and cut off the supply of illicit drugs.
Mr Ng also highly commended police volunteers for their participation in the project. "Anti-drug initiatives have yielded good results. Students, teachers and parents are now more knowledgeable about the evils of drugs. The project helps students stand firm and say no to drugs when faced with temptation, by developing healthy lifestyles and positive value among them," he said.
Jointly organised by the Force and the Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan School Council, "Build a Healthy School Together" is a two-year community-based project to raise the awareness of students and young people to resist drugs.
An Anti-drug Week was held in some 130 primary and secondary schools, featuring a host of activities, including anti-drug messages exhibitions, interactive drama performances and anti-drug sharing sessions conducted by police volunteers. Eight innovative e-learning packages have been produced for over 100,000 students to acquire anti-drug knowledge in class.
Other officiating guests at the closing ceremony included the Project Steering Committee Advisors, Dr Lee Yuk-lun and Mr Ng Siu-keung; Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Lo Mung-hung; the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Rev Dominic Chan, Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Erica Hui, and the Chairman of the Action Committee Against Narcotics, Prof Daniel Shek.
To mark conclusion of the event, the participating students, led by the Secretary for Education, said "No" to drugs to demonstrate their determination to stand firm against drugs.
From left: Mr Lo, Rev Chan, Dr Lee, Mr Ng Hak-kim, Mr
Ng Siu-keung, Mrs Hui and Prof Shek call on young people to say "No" to
drugs
