葉錫恩
(MRS.) E. ELLIOTT.
TEL. 0-422414
OUR
REF:
YOUR REF:
55. Kung Lok Road, Kwun Tong,
KOWLOON.
25.
On the whole, it seemed that the prisoners engaged in outdoor work-construction and other manual labour calling for their youthful energies (and most prisoners may be called youthful)-were happiest and most likely to regain a balanced outlook in society because they are doing useful work. Pik Uk was a good example. Prisoners are sent out to help the villagers, to build bridges, roads and other public works. It is understood, of course, that violent prisoners create some problems in organising outdoor work. Perhaps some of our successful industrial- ists who cry out about a labour shortage could be encouraged to set up modern production factories engaging prisoners in some useful and productive employment. The savings in labour costs could be used for security measures.
May I now draw a few conclusions from the foregoing.
The general picture in prisons is good, and enormous progress has been made, thanks to all concerned, under the leadership of the Commissioner.
If the purpose of prison sentence is to reform the prisoner, ways should be found to make them useful and productive. To this end, the wherewithal will have to be provided, and this in turn should be self- supporting in time.
It is doubtful if there is any value in sending to prison old men who were smoking drugs from the time that their import was legal in Hong Kong. It is also doubtful if there is any value in detaining young girls who are first offenders and the victims of vice rackets.
It is advisable that some means of investigation should not be set up to look in depth 'claims of frame-ups by police or triads. Visits by J.P.s are inadequate for this purpose, while bodies like the Police Complaints Section and UMELCO's monitoring body do little to expose frame-ups of the kind we met. The frankness and openness of the Prisons Department should in my opinion, set an example to other Government Department. to be the same.
Most important of all is this last point. It is essential that alleged frame-ups should be studied with a view to stopping this unjust and crime-creating, soul-destroying custom of the Police.
Although this letter is signed by myself, I have to express my gratitude to Mr. A. J. Sanguinetti for his assistance both in visiting the institutions, and for its legal asepcts.
Cont. You