Pubdate: Wed, 12 Nov 2008
Source: Standard, The (China)
Copyright: 2008 The Standard Newspapers Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.thestandard.com.hk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4721
Authors: Adele Wong and Patsy Moy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

DRUG-TAKING TEENS COULD FACE FORCED BORDER TESTS

Teenagers suspected of taking drugs across the border may be subject 
to compulsory drug testing when they arrive at the Hong Kong checkpoint.

The move was among the recommendations announced yesterday by the 
Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse headed by Secretary for Justice Wong 
Yan-lung to curb drug abuse.

Wong said the number of young people going to the mainland to take 
drugs was alarming as official figures show one in six young drug 
abusers, or 17 percent, took drugs across the border last year.

The report said that abuse of psychotropic substances has replaced 
heroin as the "No 1 enemy" in Hong Kong's youth drug scene.

In the recommendation, young drug abusers will be given a warning and 
police will inform their parents when they are caught for the first time.

Rehabilitation and treatment may also be offered.  Prosecution would 
only follow if they are caught repeatedly.

To ensure young drug abusers would not go to the mainland to take 
drugs, the task force would also consider introducing an 
extra-territorial coverage of the legislation.

Another major initiative is the push for voluntary drug testing 
schemes in all schools. Currently only a few international schools 
are adopting the arrangement.

The task force, set up in October last year as one of the initiatives 
announced in the Policy Address, will come up with a discussion paper 
next year.

"The primary purpose of the compulsory drug testing scheme is to 
enable early intervention for treatment and rehabilitation. 
Prosecution is our last resort," Wong said. Officials believe the 
measures would have a deterrent effect on youth if their parents are notified.

A government source admitted the new arrangement may draw criticism 
and even legal challenges from those who see it as an infringement of 
human rights or privacy.

"However, we need to strike a balance between human rights of 
individuals and public interest. For example, it is widely acceptable 
to subject drivers to breathalizer test to crack down on drunk 
driving," the source said.

The source also admitted there were concerns among schools and 
parents about possible labeling effect if their students and children 
were found to have taken drugs.

"The government will map out a mechanism with schools and parents to 
help those children instead of simply forcing them to accept the 
policy without giving them further support," the source added.

Committee on home school co-operation chairman Wong Po-choi said he 
agreed with the proposal if the goal was to help students cope with 
drug addiction, and not merely to punish them.

"But keeping children off drugs is everyone's responsibility, 
including parents and teachers. Parents should have a higher 
awareness of drug-related issues; we're finding that they lack this."

Christian Zheng Sheng College principal Chan Siu-cheuk wanted to see 
solid solutions in addition to the testing schemes.

"I want to see them as a means rather than an end to prevent youth 
from taking drugs." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake