Two church leaders have called in their Christmas messages for the community to be more loving and caring following a year marked by controversy over a drug-testing scheme in schools and relocation of a drug rehabilitation school.
Sheng Kung Hui primate Dr Paul Kwong called for more acceptance in the community and warned against the attitude of 'not in my backyard'. 'Hong Kong is a civilised and peaceful city respecting the rule of law,' he said. 'However, in recent years the attitude of rejecting and discriminating ... can be found everywhere.
'In particular, the not-in-my-backyard mentality has gradually spread out to the whole community. For example, the relocation of a school for correcting problematic students with drug addiction, building a centre for mental disease treatment and rehabilitation, and redevelopment of a school and social service centre have encountered opposition from the local community.'
Kwong was referring to Christian Zheng Sheng College, a private school that rehabilitates young drug users. The college has applied for the use of a vacant school in Mui Wo but is facing strong opposition from the local community.
Kwong said that although the Mui Wo community understood the facilities were important, some residents did not want them to be housed in their neighbourhood.
'We do understand the feelings of the residents concerned, because no one wishes to find that their neighbourhoods are thus affected,' he said. 'However, if there is no place to provide for such facilities, it definitely affects those who need such services.
