HK GRANTS MORE FUNDS TO DRUG PREVENTION PROJECTS

The Hong Kong government has granted around 500,000 HK dollars (US$64,100)
to finance 19 district anti-drug preventive education and publicity projects
under the Community Against Drugs Scheme (CADS) in the year 2000/ 2001,
according to a government press release Monday.

Funded by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) of Hong Kong, the
objective of the CADS is to encourage non-profit-making organizations, such
as voluntary bodies and schools, to launch preventive education and
publicity projects to further the anti-drug cause.

Since its inception in 1972, the scheme has been an integral part of ACAN's
drug prevention program. This year, the upper limit of grant has been
increased to 40,000 HK dollars (US$5,100) for each project in order to
encourage more worthwhile and innovative proposals.

Justein Wong, chairman of the ACAN Preventive Education and Publicity
Sub-committee, said the assessment panel gives priority to those projects
which target at areas with high drug abuse rate, youths at risk, and those
providing training or support for volunteers in disseminating anti-drug
messages.

"Factors like the objective of the project, degree of innovation, number of
beneficiaries, cost-effectiveness, scale of publicity, and the past
performance of the applicants in using ACAN funds are also considered when
assessing the projects," he added.