The Narcotics Bureau (NB) and the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force have collaborated for the first time to stage a large-scale carnival, “Let’s T.A.L.K. LOL Party”, which will run for two consecutive days from today (November 16) at the West Kowloon Cultural District. The event will combine elements of sports, music and art to promote anti-drug and child protection messages to the public.
Officiating at the kick-off ceremony, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee, said that both anti-drug and child protection efforts have always been of paramount importance to the Police, and that the Force is committed to keeping children and young people away from drugs and violence, and to ensuring that they grow up in a safe and healthy environment. He also mentioned the importance of education as the first step in prevention. Enhancing the knowledge and awareness of children and young people about drug harm and violent behaviour is the key to effectively reducing drug abuse and child abuse incidents.
The Police emphasised that following the latest Policy Address, the listing of the emerging etomidate (i.e. “Space Oil”) as a dangerous drug is expected to take place in the first quarter of next year, and the implementation of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance is scheduled for January 2026. The Force will intensify its cross-territory enforcement efforts and multi-sector publicity campaigns, aiming to establish a stronger anti-drug cordon for children and young people.
In the first three quarters of this year, the number of young people committing drug-related offences recorded a year-on-year decline of 27 per cent, with about 100 arrestees aged under 21 for serious drug offences, while child abuse cases increased by 7 per cent year-on-year to 1 090, with the youngest victim of physical assault being under one year old. These demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-drug publicity and education initiatives, alongside heightened public awareness of child protection. Nevertheless, more significant outcomes require collective anti-drug and child protection efforts across all sectors to create a drug-free and violence-free community in Hong Kong filled with love.
The carnival’s kick-off highlight, “Love Our Children Yoga Challenge”, called for 640 participants performing partner yoga together, breaking the world record and bringing joyful moments to all involved. Other exciting activities include over 30 game booths set up by various departments, child welfare institutions, as well as 100 mentees from the Leadership Institute on Narcotics (L.I.O.N.); the “3D Post-Drug Simulation” on the anti-drug promotional truck; the child protection promotional truck, and sharing sessions by rehabilitating drug addicts, to convey the messages of love for life and “Drugs? Never ever!”.
Other officiating guests at the kick-off ceremony included the Director of Crime and Security of Police, Mr Yip Wan-lung; the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ms Chung Wing-man; the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions of the Department of Justice, Ms Catherine Ko; the Assistant Director (Family & Child Welfare) of the Social Welfare Department, Ms Wendy Chau; the Executive Chairman of the Hong Kong Youth Development Alliance, Ms Christine Lam; the Principal President of L.I.O.N., Mr Godfrey Ngai; Clinical Professor of the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, Dr Patrick Ip; Convenor of the Working Group on Child Protection of the Commission on Children, Ms Kathy Chung; and the Ambassadors of the Child Protection Campaign, Ms Linda Wong and Mr So Wa-wai.
This first collaborative anti-drug and child protection carnival by the Police carries triple significance: sustaining the efforts in the “Love Our Life – LOL Party” large-scale anti-drug exhibitions over the past two years to offer L.I.O.N. mentees a platform to showcase their learning outcomes; serving as the finale of NB’s Anti-Drug Campaign; and marking the launch of the “Let’s T.A.L.K. Child Protection Campaign 2024”.
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