In his report delivered at the fourth session of the second Hainan Provincial People’s Congress, Governor Wang Xiaofeng pledged that the government is confident in turning Hainan into a narcotics-free region.

The government will adopt effective measures including encouraging the establishment of narcotics-free neighborhoods, cities and counties, wiping out social evils such as pornography, gambling and drug addiction to ensure social and political stability in Hainan.

Wang’s pledge was greeted with a thunder applause by 650 deputies and government work advisors who were present at the congress session which closed last week.

Drug use has expanded from nil to fast spreading on the southern Chinese island in the past years. The number of drug addicts now total 18,000, said a survey.

The question whether Hainan can or can not become a drug-free island has become one of the topics for discussions among deputies, government work advisors, and ordinary people.

Wang Junyan, a member of the provincial committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), considered Governor Wang’s solemn pledge “encouraging.”

“I think drug control should be placed first in the campaign to fight against the social evils of pornography, gambling and drug taking, because the harm of narcotics is much bigger than that of pornography and of gambling,” Wang said. Wang, who also called on all aspects to act in cooperation with departments of public security to ensure a success of drug control.

While talking about the situation in social order on the island province, especially drug use and trafficking problems, deputies Liu Dexiang and Hong Qiqiu said the provincial government authorities’ determination just accords with the will of the general public.

“To realize the goal of building Hainan into a drug-free island, it is necessary that all aspects should make concerted efforts, and the government’s financial input in harnessing social order and eliminating social evils should also be increased,” said the two deputies.

Deputy Wang Fuyu suggested that a group of drug-free communities and towns be built to gain experiences first and then spread them to more areas of the province based on years’ experimentation.

“If the rampancy of drug taking is not controlled, it is unworthy of us to take any pride at the time when Hainan becomes a land of prosperity,” said Governor Wang.

“We can not live up to the expectations of the residents of Hainan and younger generations if drugs are not banned here,” he said.

(People’s Daily 02/22/2001)