New Platforms on Social Media and Mobile Applications to Beat Drugs“Let’s Face It” and “DIAMOND”

Riding on the popularity of social media and mobile technologies, the battle to keep young people away from drugs is turning a hi-tech chapter as the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) teams up with the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA), local youth service groups and academics to launch two anti-drug support projects funded by the Beat Drugs Fund of the HKSAR Government.

"Let’s Face It" is a life skills-based education campaign on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social media platforms jointly developed with the University of Hong Kong. Through eight online interactive thematic activities, participants will acquire skills to develop self-esteem and the capacity to say “NO” to drugs. Using mobile and new electronic media, the "DIAMOND – DIAlogue‧MObile‧No Drugs" (“DIAMOND”) project, developed jointly with WTIA, engages high-risk youths on a mobile dialogue platform with virtual mentors to assert positive influence on anti-drug.

Introducing the projects today (15 March 2011), Dr Lawrence Cheung, Principal Consultant (IT Industry Development) of HKPC, said, “HKPC has been working closely with the local industry to promote a wider application of information technology in different sectors of the community. As technical consultant of these projects, HKPC, in partnership with industry and NGOs, aims to develop new applications using social media and mobile technologies to engage young people in anti-drug campaign.”

To date, a portal for “Let’s Face It” (www.faceteen.org) was launched in December 2010 and an online survey is underway to evaluate teens’ psychosocial, emotional state and behavioural repertoire in relation to drugs taking, before and after participating in the campaign activities. Results of the study will be announced in January 2012. On the other hand, the mobile dialogue platform of “DIAMOND” will be launched in September 2011.

Partners of the projects, including Mr Lawrence Li, Director of Hong Kong Wireless Development Centre of WTIA; Mr Ted Lam, Acting Assistant Executive Director (Outreaching Service) of Youth Outreach; Ms Carol Ng, Programme Co-ordinator of Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service; Dr Samson Tse, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration of the University of Hong Kong; and Professor Anthony Fung, School of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; also joined the launch today.

For more information about the projects, please contact Dr Lawrence Cheung at tel.: (852) 2788 5774 or email: cccheung@hkpc.org. For other media enquiries, please contact HKPC’s Felix Chan at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org


15 March 2011

Dr Lawrence Cheung, Principal Consultant (IT Industry Development) of HKPC (third from left), launches “Let’s Face It” and “DIAMOND – DIAlogue‧MObile‧No Drugs” with partners of the projects

Portal for “Let’s Face It” (www.faceteen.org)

Facebook of “Let’s Face It”