The anti-drug publicity function, "Say No to Drugs" Pledging Ceremony, was organized by the Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau in collaboration with Zion Social Service and the Outstanding Young Persons' Association.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ip said, "This is a large-scale anti-drug publicity function organized by the Hong Kong SAR government to tie in with the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June."

It aims to raise public awareness of the drug problem and encourage the publics to participate in the anti-drug cause, she added. Ip appealed to young people to stay away from drugs. "Youngpeople must say 'No' to drugs and strive to be healthy, determined and influential. They must also convince their friends and peers to stay away from drugs," she said.

Those who officiated at the ceremony were Chen Shaobo, directorof the Guangdong Narcotic Control Commission Office; Ip Peng Kin, president of the Social Welfare Institute of the Macao Special Administrative Region; and Clarie Lo, commissioner for Narcotics of the Hong Kong SAR.

"The participation of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao anti-drug officials in today's event as well as an anti-drug party held in Macao Sunday, and the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Anti-drug Rally to be held in Shenzhen on June 26 demonstrates our firm commitment to forming a united front in combating the drug problem," Ip said.

The picture above shows that the Police officer Shen Li narrates some youth the bad effects of drug addicts in a community in Beijing June 23, 2002. Various kinds of activities were launched to arouse people's awarenesses of the bad effects of drugs throughout China as the International Drug Banning Day that falls on June 26 coming up.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2002)