HONG KONG: The number of youngsters arrested for serious drug offences has increased by 10 percent in the first five months of the year, causing concern to the government, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said.

Lee said after the Fight Crime Committee meeting yesterday that the number of young drug offenders from January to May has increased to 517 from 467 in the same period last year.

Authorities seized 23 kilograms of methamphetamine (Ice) in the same period, representing a 360 percent increase from a year ago. Some 36 kilograms of heroin were seized, compared with 30 kilograms during the first five months last year. Authorities seized 3,900 tablets of ecstasy, compared with 3,108 a year earlier.

The amount of cannabis seized had dropped by 78 percent to 11 kilograms. Authorities also seized 4.3 percent and 5.7 percent less ketamine and cocaine respectively.

Lee explained that the increase in methamphetamine and heroin was due to higher demand among youngsters.

"Besides, the law enforcement agencies, especially the Customs and Excise Department and the police, have strengthened its intelligence and its actions combating the source of drugs," he said.

The government will introduce a voluntary drug test scheme in some schools in September to help tackle the worsening drug problem among youngsters.

Paul Lo Po-sing, ELCHK North District Youth Outreaching Social Work Team leader, believed the measure cannot be a deterrent because it is voluntary. "What the teens are really afraid of is the authoritative power - the power of how the scheme is implemented," he said.

Lo attributed the reason for the increased seizure of methamphetamine to excessive demands by drug abusers.

(HK Edition 06/24/2009 page1)