Rural leaders proposed several alternate sites for the planned relocation of a drug rehabilitation boarding school yesterday.

There's strong opposition from some Mui Wo residents who don't want the overcrowded Christian Zheng Sheng College in Chi Ma Wan to move to their neighborhood.

Lau Wong-fat, the chairman of Heung Yee Kuk, a rural affairs advisory body, said it had proposed several sites to the chief secretary for administration yesterday. He declined to name the alternate sites. "We support the mission of the (Christian) Zheng Sheng College - to help students who went astray to start anew in our society. But why is Mui Wo the only choice for its new campus? Will they consider other places if we propose more options?" he asked.

Lau argued Mui Wo should be treated more fairly.

The sites the agency suggested are believed to be in Kwai Chung, Sai Kung, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun.

Heung Yee Kuk's vice-chairman Daniel Lam Wai-keung said Hei Ling Chau, Shek Kwu Chau and Chi Ma Wan, where drug rehabilitation facilities already are available, are also worth considering.

He predicted the college will find it easier to move to those three areas because opposition there will be less intense.

A spokesman for the Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office confirmed receipt of a list but declined to name the sites proposed in the list.

The spokesman said the government will discuss the alternate sites with the college but could not predict when a decision will be made.

School principal Chan Siu-cheuk said it is unnecessary to isolate his students from the community.

He said the places Lam suggested have small populations and may be unable to help his students to reintegrate into society.

"We teach them how to manage their own lives," he said. "They can still perform labor if our school moves to the vacant campus (of the former New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School)."

But he said he will examine the alternate sites to see if they are suitable.

As the debate carries on, preparations are being made for the early launch of a voluntary school drug testing program.

All 20 secondary schools in the North District showed interest in the program, their representative said.

Yuen Pong-yiu, the chairperson of the North District Secondary School Headmasters' Conference, said all schools in the area are willing to take part in the program to do their part to keep students from taking drugs.

China Daily

(HK Edition 06/23/2009 page1)