PUBLIC ORDER
with the School of Continuing Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong a Programme in Penology to update the knowledge of staff.
Staff are selected to attend relevant courses run by other government departments and local universities or participate in overseas visits, training and conferences in order to broaden their experience and to keep them abreast of the latest trend and developments in correctional services world-wide.
Visiting Justices
Penal institutions are visited by Justices of the Peace fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institution. The Justices receive and investigate complaints, inspect diets and report on living and working conditions. They may also advise the Commissioner of Correctional Services on employment opportunities for released prisoners.
Complaints
The CSD has a Complaints Investigation Unit that is responsible for handling and investigating complaints in relation to the department's work. All investigation. reports are subject to the scrutiny of the Correctional Services Department Complaints Committee, which is chaired by the Civil Secretary. The complaints. handling service provided by this unit was accredited the ISO 9002:1994 Certificate in August 2000.
Inmates may also lodge complaints with visiting senior officers or utilise other channels for redressing their grievance by making complaints to visiting Justices of the Peace, The Ombudsman and Legislative Councillors.
Drug Abuse and Trafficking
The Government is committed to reducing both the supply of and the demand for illicit drugs through a wide range of action and programmes. It is also committed to reducing the prevalence and incidence of drug abuse by developing a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation programme for drug abusers and dissuading people, in particular the young, from taking or experimenting with drugs.
Overall Strategy and Co-ordination
In combating drug trafficking and abuse, the Government adopts a comprehensive five-pronged approach which covers law enforcement, preventive education and publicity, treatment and rehabilitation, research, and international co-operation.
Effective law enforcement curtails illicit drug supply and induces drug abusers to seek treatment voluntarily. It also brings compulsory treatment to many who are convicted and have a drug dependency. A comprehensive range of treatment and rehabilitation services is provided to meet the different needs of drug abusers from varying backgrounds.
Preventive education and publicity programmes are organised across the HKSAR and at local level to increase public awareness of the drug problem and to encourage people to adopt a drug-free lifestyle. Research studies are conducted on various aspects of the drug abuse problem and the findings facilitate the planning of suitable anti-drug strategies and programmes. Co-operation at the international level, through
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