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are intended to give a better understanding of human behaviour and crime. Courses for officers are set at post-graduate level with emphasis on leadership training.
Staff posted to specialised institutions such as detention, training and addiction treat- ment centres undergo a further one-month course. Refresher courses are held regularly, with development courses on special subjects ranging from security to management also conducted. Selected staff are trained by the Medical and Health Department as registered or enrolled nurses, or as registered mental nurses.
Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society
Over the past 25 years, the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society has successfully developed and consolidated its services for discharged prisoners. Of particular significance is the society's involvement in the acceptance of ex-prisoners by the community, a factor crucial to the successful rehabilitation of former offenders. The society has now taken steps to extend its services to innovative areas, including assistance to ex-prisoners with a history of mental illness.
Closed Centres for Vietnamese Refugees
The continuing high rate of refugee arrivals and more restrictive criteria adopted by resettlement countries prompted the government to introduce a 'closed centre' policy designed to discourage people from leaving Vietnam for Hong Kong. As from July 2, 1982, all arriving Vietnamese refugees have been detained in closed centres under the control and management of the department. The general concept of a closed centre involves refugees being detained under confinement and being subjected to regulation and control. No outside employment is allowed and other contact with the outside world is curtailed. At the same time, care is taken to keep families together in what is a very basic, but humane, living environment. There are nine such centres. The largest, located at Chi Ma Wan on Lantau Island, has accommodation for up to 3 500 refugees in family groups. Single people are dispersed among several smaller centres.
By the end of the year, nearly 300 staff had been recruited and trained specifically for the care and supervision of refugees in closed centres run by the Correctional Services Department, whose numbers had risen to 3 258 by year-end. Medical facilities are provided by the Medical and Health Department, and educational and recreational activities for detainees at Chi Ma Wan are organised with the assistance of the Salvation Army which operates a full-time welfare programme in the camp. The United Nations High Com- missioner for Refugees meets part of the cost of food, medical supplies, utilities and certain other relief items.
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department responded to and dealt with 297 493 emergencies in 1982, of which 12 766 were fire calls, 8 502 special service calls and 276 225 ambulance calls. Fires caused 41 deaths, and left a further 610 people injured. Of the injured, 39 were firemen. A total of 1 172 people were rescued and hundreds of others were led to safety by firemen.
False alarm calls numbered 549 of which the great majority were raised with good intent either by the public or by over-sensitive or defective automatic alarm systems, particularly smoke detectors.
Buildings and Quarters
Under the department's development programme to provide an emergency response to