PUBLIC ORDER
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London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Hong Kong Examinations Autho- rity. From 1988, inmates were accorded 'school candidate status' for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations.
Medical Services
All institutions have their own medical units providing basic treatment, health and dental care, including radiodiagnostic and pathological examinations as well as prophylactic inoculations. Inmates requiring specialist treatment are either referred to a visiting consultant or transferred to a public hospital.
Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre and the psychiatric observation unit at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre treat prisoners with mental health problems, and offer psychiatric con- sultations and assessments for inmates referred by other institutions and the courts.
Ante-natal and post-natal care is provided within institutions for women but babies are normally delivered in public government hospitals.
Psychological Services
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Psychologists and specially-trained officers provide a wide range of counselling services for prisoners and inmates with emotional difficulties, behavioural or personality problems. In-depth reports are prepared on request to assist the courts in their sentencing and the department in assessing an offender's suitability for particular programmes. Research projects are also undertaken to improve treatment programmes and reduce recidivism.
Visiting Justices
Justices of the Peace appointed by the Governor visit institutions and the centres for Vietnamese boat people, either fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institution. They investigate complaints, inspect diets and report on living and working conditions. They may also advise the Commissioner of Correctional Services on the employment of prisoners and work opportunities after release.
After-care Services
After-care plays an important role in an inmate's re-integration into the community after release and helps them to lead an industrious and law-abiding life. This service is currently available to inmates from training, detention and drug addiction treatment centres, young prisoners and prisoners released under the Release Under Supervision and Pre-release Employment Schemes.
The after-care programme begins immediately after admission into an institution. Each inmate is interviewed by an aftercare officer who then proceeds to establish a sound relationship with the inmate and his family.
Inmates are further assisted, through individual and group counselling, to gain a better insight into problems arising from their social inadequacies. They are helped to become better prepared to cope with these difficulties upon release including the finding of suitable accommodation, a job or school placement.
After-care officers contact supervisees regularly after release, providing them with appropriate assistance and guidance, and ensuring that supervision requirements are strictly complied with. A breach of supervision conditions can result in a recall for a further period of training.
The success of the programmes is measured by the percentage of supervisees who complete supervision without reconviction and, where applicable, remain drug free. At the