Hong Kong will launch the school drug testing trial program as one of its efforts to fight youth drug abuse, starting in Tai Po secondary schools in December, local education authorities said Thursday.

Officials from the Education Bureau and the Security Bureau's Narcotics Division of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Thursday briefed representatives from 23 Tai Po schools on details of the scheme.

Secretary for Education Michael Suen said the HKSAR government proposes getting parents' consent for their children's testing. For those aged 18 or more, consent from both the student and parents will be required.

"We hope the scheme will be effective by the fact it's completely voluntary and we will keep the data confidential," Suen said.

A special team consisting of medical and social workers, and data management staff will go to schools to conduct random drug tests. Selected students will go to designated places to provide a urine sample for screening. If necessary, samples will be sent to laboratories for confirmatory tests. Principals and the concerned parents will be informed of the results.

Students who test positive will not be expelled or charged. Follow-up services will be given to them. A case manager will be assigned and a multi-disciplinary case conference will be held to devise a support and counseling program for that particular student. The case manager will review the program's effectiveness every three months.

If students, despite having parental consent, refuse to be tested, they will not be forced to provide samples. Social workers will try to find out the reason for the refusal and inform the principal who will then decide whether there is a need to arrange counseling for the student.

Serious drug cases in Hong Kong rose 2 percent to 1,529 in the first half of the year, according to Hong Kong Police.

There is a rising trend in drug cases on school campuses, said the police, pledging to focus on combating drugs in the second half of the year, particularly youth drug abuse.

The HKSAR government has earmarked 9 million HK dollars (1.16 million U.S. dollars) for anti-drug community programs to attract youngsters to healthier activities.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2009)