Police have stepped up intelligence exchange with Mainland authorities to combat drug trafficking and weed out supply of ketamine, Police Narcotics Bureau Chief Superintendent Ip Lau-chuen says, adding more effort will be made to tackle the increasing supply of cocaine.

Speaking on a radio talkshow today, Mr Ip said inspections had been strengthened over the past two years to deter drug abuse. The Mainland implemented a new policy in October to tackle the issue.

Under the new policy, Hong Kong and Macau people netted for drug abuse in the Mainland will be detained for 15 days and have their home visit permits revoked for three years.

Mr Ip said the move would have a deterrent effect, adding there were signs that the supply and abuse of ketamine was declining.

Nevertheless, he noted the amount of cocaine seized in the first 11 months of this year was at an all-time high, at 49 kilograms. Also, the price per one gram of cocaine fell from $1,100 at the beginning of this year to $600 now.

Mr Ip said while the upward trend was a global one, co-operation with relevant authorities on the Mainland and overseas would be strengthened to tackle to problem.

On drug abuse among young people, Mr Ip stressed schools and parents were the key to keeping youngsters away from drugs, and called on teachers and parents to play their part in giving youngsters a healthy lifestyle.

He noted schools in Singapore tested students' hair regularly to see if they had abused drugs, and schools here may adopt this effective measure with parents' consent.