The Security Bureau says it keeps an open mind on hair drug-testing technologies, adding any feasible, internationally accredited and cost effective methods will be considered.

It said it is too early to say whether hair samples will be used in school drug testing or compulsory drug testing in future, adding the testing mode and other details will be announced later.

The school drug testing trial scheme in Tai Po, which started this month, has adopted urine testing rather than hair.

It said this year's Policy Address committed to making available another effective drug-testing tool. The Government Laboratory will take the lead in bringing in hair drug testing with a view to transferring the technology to the industry.

The University of Science & Technology contacted the Government in mid-November to show their research on hair drug-testing technologies. The Government welcomes related research and development and will study it, compare the cost, degree of accuracy, sensitivity and other factors, and provide reference for the industry.

The research, which will be conducted in parallel with the implementation of the trial scheme, will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the scheme's design, execution procedure and effectiveness, and research issues, including the feasibility of other drug testing methods and other local and overseas experiences in school drug testing.

It will also suggest appropriate refinements and how the scheme can be rolled out on a wider basis. The Government will consider its report recommendations in detail before making any decisions.