The Commissioner for Narcotics on Saturday said that young people must be at the forefront of the fight against substance abuse.

Kesson Lee's comments came a day after Hong Kong hosted the "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Anti-drug Summit".

The high-level drug control conference aimed to bolster the SAR's fight against drug-related crimes. It included exchanges between officers in areas such as education, intelligence sharing, and enforcement.

Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Lee said youth education and drug abuse prevention were central themes at the summit, and that it was essential to move beyond government-led directives to actively engage young people in the fight.

"Young people need to understand that they have a personal responsibility," he said.

"They are part of society. It's not a matter of being forced to engage in anti-drug efforts. They must consciously choose to reject drugs themselves.

"This is why we emphasise the saying 'I lead the fight against drugs'. It should be led by young people, rather than being managed or forced upon them by the government. They have to actively say no to drugs."

Experts at the summit, Lee added, discussed how to instil anti-drug values deeply in young people, hoping to help them understand that curiosity and thrill-seeking can have severe and lasting consequences.

Echoing this view, Wilson Chan, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, said young people turn to drugs for many reasons, including academic pressure and a desire for new experiences.

"Drug dealers often exploit their curiosity and desire for new experiences, like with etomidate or even previously with ketamine, in the hope of making money through luring them in," he said.

"For us, the most important thing is to make young people aware of the harm associated with drug use.

"Of course, it is illegal, but the harm, when we ask what it is, lies primarily in its impact on the body.

"Many young people, if they use drugs, will inevitably experience discomfort. If we can inform other young people early on about these risks, we can help stop them from using drugs."