compared with about 2,900 in the previous year. Of those entering the Home, 1,808 were admitted for temporary custody pending court hear- ings and 1,592 were remanded for observation, while 94 juveniles were committed for short term residential training. At the end of the year, there were 72 inmates in the Home, where a full daily programme of outdoor games, recreation, classes and so on kept them occupied and interested.

52. Fortunately it was possible during the year to push on with plans for a new combined Probation and Remand Home for Boys at Begonia Road in Kowloon with accommodation for 70 on remand and 100 on probation with a condition of residence. This new Home is expected to be completed before the next annual report is written and should serve to relieve pressure considerably.

53. The only Approved School in Hong Kong is at Castle Peak, with accommodation originally for 100 boys under 16. As a result of the increasing number of juveniles committed by the Courts for institutional care, it was necessary to take make-shift measures in order to admit 20 more boys; but even then the total accommodation was insufficient and the Magistrates concerned had, from time to time, no option but to consider other forms of treatment for offending juveniles. This was an extremely unsatisfactory state of affairs, not only for the Courts but also for the Department; towards the end of the year, plans were made to adapt the existing Home to take in another 30 boys and to push on with a project for a second Approved School capable of taking 120 boys. The planned increase up to 150 at Castle Peak was possible only because new staff quarters enabled the Superintendent to reshuffle the available accommodation.

54. During the year, there were 59 admissions and 31 discharges at Castle Peak compared with 40 and 39 respectively last year; the period of training is not specified in the Committal Order, but under the Industrial and Reformatory Schools Ordinance which authorizes committal no boys may be kept there for less than 2 years or for more than 5 years or above the age of 18. In practice, boys are usually discharged after a period of between 2 and 24 years, provided that their conduct is satisfactory, and spend the remainder of the 5 year period on licence. Schooling and trade classes in carpentry, tailoring and rattan work continued at the Home, and the Scout troop came to the fore- front during the Golden Jubilee Jamborette of the local Association held in Kowloon in January 1962 when they won the 'Best All Round

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