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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (November 16) wrote to all secondary school students and their parents appealing to their support for the campaign against youth drug abuse and the Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in Tai Po District. Following is the text of the letters:
(1) Letter to students:
We are now more than two months into the new academic year. I hope you have settled down with the studies.
We all come across many different challenges as we travel along our life's journey. We might have troubles in our studies, at home with our families, or in our personal relationships. It is the attitude with which we face these difficulties that makes all the difference.
Some may choose to confront these challenges and seek help from family, friends and teachers when needed. They then overcome these problems and move on to lead rewarding lives.
Some may try to escape, sometimes by turning to the distraction of drugs and other harmful substances. Some may take drugs out of curiosity or because of peer pressure. Whatever the reason, drugs hurt both your body and the hearts of your family and friends. To students who already take drugs, I urge you to stop now before you lose your precious health and youth.
We don't have to fight our battles in life alone. There is always someone around to offer help. The Government and secondary schools in Tai Po District will implement the "Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing" in December this year. Today we will issue the protocol of the scheme and consent letters to students and parents in Tai Po. The only aim of this voluntary scheme is to help students resist the temptation of drugs.
Some of you might understandably ask: "I am not taking drugs, so why should I be tested?" Participating in the scheme might cause some minor inconvenience, but there is a positive perspective. The drug testing scheme will engender a "Say NO to drugs!" culture on campuses, and this is vital to helping your fellow students resist drugs. For those who have tried drugs or have become addicted, the scheme will offer them a chance to reflect and, more important, give them the necessary help to pull them back on the right path.
I like this quotation: "When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost." I hope all of you will encourage and support one another. As long as you don't give up, stay true to your real character, and find strength in one another, you will overcome any challenges that may come your way.
You have my best wishes for academic success and a fulfilling life.
(2) Letter to parents:
We are now more than two months into the new academic year. After all those back-to-school hassles, parents have come to care more about the children's studies.
Parents are understandably concerned about their children's success in school. More importantly, it is incumbent upon us parents to help our children choose the right path for a healthy and meaningful life. Juvenile drug abuse has become serious in Hong Kong. This is worrying for the parents and the community. To combat the problem, the Government has geared up law enforcement actions to curb the supply of drugs. However, there are many other reasons behind the problem. We need to mobilise the whole community to help our young people stay away from drugs.
Prevention of drug abuse begins at home. In one of the many anti-drug activities over these months, I met a mother of a fairly well-off family. Feeling insufficient care but over-expectations from parents, her son lost himself to drugs under peer influence. The shocked, despairing mother suffered from temporary blindness after much painful crying, but she never gave up on her son. With the help of teachers and social workers, the prodigal son repented and got out of drugs eventually. This story tells us that better communication with our children is the most effective way to prevent juvenile drug abuse.
Students using psychotropic substances show no obvious symptoms in the early stages and may go unnoticed for several years. By the time the problem surfaces, their bodies and minds will have suffered unrepairable harm. To tackle the problem of hidden drug abuse, the Government and secondary schools in Tai Po District will implement the "Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing" in December this year. Later today we will issue the protocol of the scheme and consent letters to parents and students in Tai Po. The only aim of this voluntary scheme is to help students resist the temptation of drugs, nipping the problem in the bud and creating a "Say NO to drugs!" culture on campuses. With regard to those who have become addicted, we hope they will soon be found and encouraged to seek help to get back on the right path.
Youngsters who have come clean of drugs told me it was love and support from family, friends, teachers and social workers that did the trick. I am confident that, working together, we will conquer drug abuse and our youngsters will lead a rewarding life.
Ends/Monday, November 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:48
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