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."