The task force on Youth Drug Abuse led by the Secretary for Justice will submit a report in October on long-term strategies to tackle the problem, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says.

At a meeting of the Central & Western District Fight Crime Committee today, Mr Lee said the Government is concerned about the youth drug abuse problem, adding it has allocated additional funding of $53 million in 2008-09 for implementing the task force's short and medium-term measures.

"The task force has been actively exploring the problem from various angles over the past few months, with an aim to formulate comprehensive, long-term and sustainable strategies," he said.

"The task force is conducting in-depth discussions on long-term strategies for combating the youth drug abuse problem and is expected to conclude its study and submit a report in October."

City-wide campaign

District fight crime committees will organise anti-drug activities to tie in with the city-wide Campaign Against Youth Drug Abuse to be launched in June.

The Central & Western District Fight Crime Committee will also do more in anti-drug activities. Anti-drug messages will be spread through talks, visits and sharing sessions involving rehabilitated ex-drug users. Such activities will be extended to non-Chinese primary and secondary students.

Apart from enhanced anti-drug publicity, Police will also step up enforcement action, increase beat patrols, and continue to closely monitor the trend of drug-related activities in their area.