*************************
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the anti-drug campaign at a media stand-up after attending RTHK's "Pentaprism II" today (Aug 17):
Reporter: Mr Cheung, some social workers said that the government should take a better look at the actual scheme before expanding it, what do you think of that? Do you think there are not enough social workers?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The pilot scheme is meant to be a pilot. It's only one of the many measures of the administration to tackle drug abuse among youngsters. We take an open mind as to the resources needed and to the actual modus operandi of the scheme. That's why in the next two weeks we'll continue to listen carefully to all the views expressed by stakeholders and ensure a viable plan will be devised by the end of the day. But I can assure the social workers concerned, particularly the social welfare sector, that in implementing the scheme, we will certainly ensure sufficient resources are made available to frontline social workers so that they can discharge the mission successfully. And I am sure through collaboration and co-operation, we will make it work at the end of the day.
Reporter: What preparation has been done so far for the pilot scheme?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We have been in close touch with various stakeholders. The colleagues concerned in fact have been in touch closely with the school sector, and also with the NGOs concerned in Tai Po with a view to devising, at the end of the day, a viable plan, a workable plan which will ensure the pilot will be a success.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, August 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:35
NNNN
