Pre-Holiday Anti-Drug Campaign Launched in HKWith Christmas and New Year around the corner, the Narcotics Division of Hong Kong launched an anti-drug publicity drive to step up drug warning at places frequented by young people Monday.Officials led by Commissioner for Narcotics Clarie Lo and nine volunteers distributed the latest leaflets and art cards highlighting the harmful effects of psychotropic substance abuse to owners of the bars and customers at Lan Kwai Fong in Central Monday evening. They also called on owners of bars, as well as similar establishments, to give assistance in distributing such leaflets and art cards to their customers. The publicity drive is expected to continue throughout the holiday season, with distribution of anti-drug information materials to similar establishments in other parts of Hong Kong. Such materials will also be sent to schools and tertiary institutions. "Apart from this campaign, arrangements have been made to increase the frequency of broadcasting a new Announcement in the Public Interest (API) on psychotropic substance abuse targeting young people on television and radio during the festive season. Arrangement will also be made to broadcast the API in cinemas," she said. Lo also reiterated that starting from December 15, 2000, ketamine has been controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Trafficking and illicit manufacture of the drug would lead to penalty as high as life imprisonment and a fine of 5 million HK dollars (641,000 U.S. dollars) while charges of unlawful possession of the drug would be seven years imprisonment and a fine of 1 million HK dollars (128,000 U.S. dollars). |
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