respectively) and confirms that the Magistrates' Courts of Hong Kong and Kowloon are making increased use of the service of the Probation Officers, not only in relation to actual and potential probation cases, but also for social inquiries, which greatly assist the Courts in dealing with persons of widely different character charged with various types of offences. (See Appendix IX).
85. To facilitate the supervision of probationers and to produce an even balance in individual case-loads, the Probation Officers operate in particular areas in which they conduct social investigations, home visits and miscellaneous inquiries; but nevertheless it has been found from experience that the varia- tion in population and social problems as between one district and another dictates a flexible policy of supervision, as distinct from one of rigid area control.
86. Beggars continue to be an irritating problem which causes Probation Officers to spend a great deal of time investi- gating their circumstances in order to assist the Courts in the matter of their disposal. Many of these mendicants abuse the efforts made on their behalf by pleading to be allowed to enter one of the residential camps and later absconding in the knowledge that they cannot by law be detained there, having attained their object of avoiding any penalty of the Court.
87. Some indication of the volume of this work may be judged from the fact that the Probation Officers during the year have conducted social investigations in respect of 1,007 males and 118 females brought before the Courts as mendicants; and of the total number of 2,112 males and 199 females who have been the subjects of social investigations by the Probation Officers it is worthy of note that no less than 698 males and 92 females were referred satisfactorily to agencies likely to assist them towards successful rehabilitation. (See Appendix IX).
88. The comprehensive Probation of Offenders Ordinance was brought into operation in December, 1956 and extends con- siderably the powers of the Courts by enabling them to place on probation any person of any age whether juvenile or adult, male or female, first offender or recidivist. The Probation of Offenders Rules, to provide for the administration of Probation
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