ACAN Celebrates 60 Years of Anti-Drug Efforts with Commemorative Events and Roving Exhibition in Hong Kong

Events launched in commemoration of ACAN's 60th anniversary

​This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN). ACAN and the Narcotics Division (ND) of the Security Bureau are taking the opportunity to co-organise a series of commemorative events, including interactive roving exhibition in education institutions and the community, community engagement activities and competitions etc, with a view to consolidating anti-drug awareness in the community. The opening ceremony of commemorative events series was held this afternoon (February 7) at Hong Kong City Hall.

Officiating at the opening ceremony of the commemorative events, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, said that the drug problem was once rampant in reviewing the 1960s and 1970s. Since its establishment, ACAN has been providing advice to the Government and mobilising community resources, which has contributed significantly to the anti-drug work efforts.

Mr Tang said that the Government and ACAN will continue to respond positively to the rapidly evolving drug situation. He said, "The Government plans to gazette the listing of etomidate, the main ingredient of the 'space oil drug', as a dangerous drug in a week's time, with immediate effect from February 14, when possession, vaping or drug trafficking is liable for very serious criminal punishment. Our law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have been well-prepared for it."

In addition, speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of ACAN, Dr Donald Li, said that since its establishment in 1965, ACAN has been committed to working with different sectors of the community to combat drug abuse and to "detoxify" the community. Over the past 60 years, ACAN has been diligently providing advice and reflecting on frontline observations to help the Government enhance the effectiveness of its anti-drug work.

Dr Li added that the drug trend has been complex and is rapidly changing. In view of the recent "space oil drug" problem, he said that "space oil drug" abuse has severe long-term harmful effects. It causes addiction, nausea, unconsciousness, and even death. He has earlier publicly indicated that ACAN fully supported the Government in stepping up the control of etomidate and welcomed the crackdown by LEAs on "space oil drug"-related crimes. He said he hoped that the control of etomidate as a dangerous drug starting from February 14 this year, as well as the increase in liabilities for relevant offences, will be effective in deterring the situation of "space oil drug" abuse.

The roving exhibition in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of ACAN is one of the events commemorating ACAN's 60th anniversary. The roving exhibition adopts the concept of a time tunnel, taking visitors through different time periods to learn about anti-drug work in the past, present and future. The roving exhibition features a theme zone dedicated to the 60th anniversary of ACAN, in which a number of anti-drug posters produced between 1960 and 2025 are displayed. The poster collection will not only provide an excellent review of various anti-drug publicity campaigns, but also reflect the changes in design and communication strategies of anti-drug publicity in response to the development of society over the years.

The anti-drug black-and-white film "Suicide On Hire Purchase", produced by ACAN in the 1960s and was once screened in cinemas, is also displayed in the theme zone. Famous comic character Old Master Q makes a guest appearance in the video, which portrays the story of the male protagonist who became a drug addict under the influence of bad company but was able to begin his life anew after undergoing treatment. Movie screenings were one of the main ways of conveying messages to the public in the 1960s. This video proves that ACAN was already well aware of the importance of publicity and education to anti-drug work in the community when it was first established.

Apart from that, a number of precious historical photos, anti-drug videos and anti-drug TV Announcements in the Public Interest are displayed at the theme zone, reviewing the changes in Hong Kong's anti-drug work over the years as the times evolved.

Including the elements of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and multimedia, the roving exhibition is divided into different theme zones with games, digital exhibition panels and photo booths to share anti-drug knowledge with visitors, and provide them with information about criminal liability for drug offences, how to seek help and so on. By combining the historical part of the exhibition and incorporating the old and the new, visitors will be able to learn from the past and have a better understanding of the harmful effects caused by drugs after the exhibition visit, so as to stay away from drugs.

The first stop of the roving exhibition is open to the public free of charge until February 10 (Monday), from 10am to 8pm, at the Exhibition Hall, 1/F, Low Block, Hong Kong City Hall. After the first stop, the roving exhibition will be held at shopping malls in different districts and tertiary institutes throughout the year. For more details of the roving exhibition, please visit the dedicated webpage on the ND's website (www.nd.gov.hk/en/ACAN60A_exhibition.html).

Events launched in commemoration of ACAN's 60th anniversary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Events launched in commemoration of ACAN's 60th anniversary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Events launched in commemoration of ACAN's 60th anniversary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Events launched in commemoration of ACAN's 60th anniversary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Events launched in commemoration of ACAN's 60th anniversary Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorm

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (March 15) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (like electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by the rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.