WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975
DETENTION CENTRES EFFECTIVE
X X X X X
DETENTION CENTRES HAVE CONTINUED TO PROVE HOST EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY.
SINCE THE FIRST ONE WAS OPENED IN JUNE 1972, SIR MURRAY SAID, 1,660 YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS, MOST OF THEM CONVICTED OF CRIMES INVOLVING VIOLENCE, HAVE PASSED THROUGH THEM,
THE SUCCESS RATE SO FAR OF 87 PER CENT INDICATED THAT IT WAS PLANNED AND ADMINISTERED ON SOUND LINES, HE ADDED.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF OFFENDERS UNDER 21 AT THE TIME OF CONVICTION HAS DROPPED FROM AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 27 PER CENT IN 1973-74 TO 19 PER CENT IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF RELEASE UNDER
SUPERVISION (PAROLE) WAS BEING LOOKED INTO.
+THERE IS MERIT AS WELL AS DANGER IN SUCH A SCHEME, BUT IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO EXAMINE THE PROPOSED SYSTEM FROM EVERY ANGLE BEFORE ARRIVING AT A FIRM RECOMMENDATION,+ HE SAID.
THE TOTAL PRISON POPULATION AT PRESENT HAS INCREASED BY 44 PER CENT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND BY SEVEN PER CENT IN THE PAST YEAR, AND NOW STANDS AT 8,140 IN ALL OUR 15 PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
+THE PRISON AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN TACKLING THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS WHICH STEM FROM THE INCREASE IN THE PRISONER POPULATION. BUT YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS DEEN EXTREMELY CONCERNED AT OVER-CROWDING AND ALL THAT IT IMPLIES, PARTICULARLY AT STALLEY, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR MURRAY SAID THAT THE PROVISION OF HEI LING CHAU FOR USE AS A NEW DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE HAS ENABLED THE PRISON SERVICE TO EXPAND ITS TREATMENT FACILITIES AND ALSO TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN SENT TO PRISON,
WITH THE CONCENTRATION OF DETENTION CENTRE TREATMENT AT SHA TSUI,
HE ADDED, TONG FUK DETENTION CENTRE HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE PRISOM SERVICE HAS WON INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ITS PIONEERING APPROACH 10 THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDITION.
+THE SUCCESS RATE, OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FOLLOWING TREATMENT, OF 42 PER CENT IS A CREDIT TO THEIR EFFORTS AND IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST SUCCESS RATES FOR THE TREATMENT OF HEROIN ADDICTS ACHIEVED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HE SAID,
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