Pubdate: Sat, 22 Aug 2009
Source: China Daily (China)
Edition:  Hong Kong
Page: 4
Copyright: 2009 China Daily
Contact:  http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4379
Author: Colleen Lee

POLICE ROLE IN DRUG TESTING TO BE REVIEWED

HONG KONG: The government has pledged to review the role police will 
play in the proposed drug-testing trial in Tai Po secondary schools.

Commissioner for Narcotics Sally Wong Pik-yee made the remark after 
the Law Society expressed grave concern about police involvement in 
the trial program.

Speaking after a meeting with representatives of the Professional 
Teachers' Union, Wong stressed that students who test positive for 
drugs in the scheme will generally not be prosecuted.

Cheung Man-kwong, the union's president, said he opposes police 
involvement in the scheme.

He cited the government as saying that it will consider the union's 
proposal and further details of the scheme will come out early next month.

Meanwhile, a recent survey found that 70.6 percent of 606 Tai Po 
residents backed the trial scheme.

Some 69.4 percent of the 337 Tai Po students polled said they will 
join the scheme while 85.3 percent of 170 parents in Tai Po said they 
will let their children take the tests.

The poll was carried out by the Democratic Alliance for the 
Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Tai Po Youths 
Association from August 12 to August 17.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom