The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will work all out to combat youth drug problems by stepping up law enforcement, expediting testing and rehabilitation and some other means, Secretary for Security, Ambrose S K Lee said Sunday.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the World Lions Service Day organized by the Lions Club International District 303 -- Hong Kong and Macao, Lee stressed that the government adopted a zero tolerance attitude towards drug traffickers and exerted every effort to combat drug related crimes.

Lee said, "Hong Kong will strengthen co-operation with the mainland and foreign authorities to curb the flow of drugs into Hong Kong to prevent their afflicting our future generations."

According to Lee, Hong Kong Police have begun full-scale anti-drug operations in every district since June this year. More than 1,000 drug related crime cases were detected, with more than 1,300 people arrested and 80 kilograms of various drugs, valued at 50 million HK dollars (about 6.46 million U.S. dollars), seized, he added.

Other than stepping up law enforcement, the government will expedite community mobilization, community support, drug testing and rehabilitation to tackle youth drug problems to prevent youth from abusing drug and to help addicted youth break the habit.

Lee said the government will implement the Trial Scheme on School Drug Testing in Tai Po District in December which aimed to boost the determination of students to say "no" to drugs and create a drug-free culture in schools.

The scheme will also trigger the motivation of those students abusing drugs to seek help and quit drugs, he added.

Lee pointed out that the youth drug problem was one of the symptoms of complicated social problems. Apart from stepping up law enforcement, publicity and preventive education, it was also necessary to mobilize all sectors of the community to forge a youth caring culture.