Club helps drug abusers by donating a new drug treatment centre

7 October 2008

With funding of over HK$11 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) has established the Ling Oi Tan Ka Wan Drug Treatment Centre in Sai Kung to help drug abusers quit their addictions. The Centre was officially opened today (7 October) by Secretary for Justice Wong Yan Lung, the Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu and other distinguished guests.

Over the years, the Club has expressed its concern about drug abuse problems by supporting a number of different anti-drug initiatives in Hong Kong. Examples include setting up The Hong Kong Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre at the roof garden of Low Block of Queensway Government Offices and the Jockey Club Anti-Drug Preventive Education Centre at Shek Kwu Chau, as well as funding a number of drug rehabilitation programmes. The Ling Oi Tan Ka Wan Drug Treatment Centre, which comprises an activity block, an administration block with canteen and a 40-place dormitory block, is expected to provide treatment programmes to more than 80 drug abusers every year.

Mr Yiu commented at today's opening ceremony that the new Centre would help more local drug abusers quit their habit and prepare for re-integration into the community. "FELM has solid experience in providing addiction treatments, offering an integrated Christian drug therapeutic rehabilitation programme and halfway house services catering to their needs," he said.