Physical checks and urine tests will be conducted on youngsters involved in drug-related crime at two magistrates' courts under a pilot scheme that will start in October.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said that to strengthen services to help drug abusers younger than 21, the tests would be introduced at Kowloon City Court and Kwun Tong Court. The physical checks will include tests of the heart, lungs and co-ordination to see if the youngsters have been affected by drugs.
'Two more social workers will be deployed to each court, bringing the total to four, to strengthen counselling services for young people involved in drug crimes,' Mr Cheung said. 'Body checks and urine tests will also be carried out. We hope this can help guide youngsters involved in drug crime back on the right track.'
The two-year pilot scheme would be extended to other magistrates' courts if it proved successful, he said.
There are now 110 probation officers serving the courts, including 22 at Kowloon City Court and 16 at Kwun Tong Court.
'We will deploy four experienced probation officers to take charge of the expanded service, and their original posts will be filled through open recruitment,' a spokeswoman for the Social Welfare Department said.