The New Taipei City (新北市) Government has launched an anti-drug campaign ahead of the upcoming Ho-Hai-Yan Gongliao Rock Festival — one of the nation’s biggest indie rock music festival — pledging to maintain order during the five-day event.
Four drug-sniffing dogs will join more than 1,000 police officers to check visitors for illegal drugs and prevent crimes, such as theft, at the evet at Fulong Beach (福隆海灘) in Gongliao Township (貢寮), which runs from Wednesday until July 10, the city’s Tourism and Travel Department said.
Mounted police will also patrol the area every afternoon. The purpose of the police pressence is to maintain a spirit of “rock but no drugs” at the summer event, which is aimed at young people and families, an official from the city government’s tourism department said.
This year, the festival, which is being held for the 12th time, has been expanded from three days to five and it will feature dozens of local bands as well as several groups from other countries, such as Canadian rock band Silverstein, Good 4 Nothing from Japan and Van She from Australia.
Another 10 indie groups will vie for the Ho-Hai-Yan Indie Music Award, an important launching pad for Taiwan’s rock musicians. The prize money for the top award winner is NT$200,000.
The authorities estimate at least 600,000 people will attend the event, compared with 570,000 visitors last year.
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