Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government laboratory will use hair drug testing as another effective drug-testing tool to tackle juvenile drug abuse, said HKSAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang on Wednesday.

The HKSAR government Laboratory will take the lead in bringing in hair drug testing, with a view to transferring the technology to the industry, Tsang said while delivering his annual policy address at the Legislative Council.

The Home Affairs Department has spearheaded youth anti-drug abuse community programs in the 18 districts to mobilize stakeholders to cultivate positive values among youngsters who are at risk, or who have fallen prey to drugs. The positive response from the public is encouraging.

"We should strive to foster a drug-free campus culture and strengthen the resolve of the vast majority of students to stay away from drugs. We should act fast to help those students with a drug problem to quit drugs," said Tsang.

The authority will launch the Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in Tai Po later this year, and consider implementing drug testing more generally in schools based on a review of the trial scheme in due course.

Tsang added that the government will also provide more rehabilitation facilities for young drug abusers as drug testing is just one aspect of the anti-drug campaign.

He also stressed that the HKSAR government is firmly committed to fighting drug abuse by tackling it on all fronts, and the local authority are joining hands with the Chinese mainland's public security authorities to combat cross-boundary drug abuse and trafficking.

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