FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1978
GOVERNOR INSPECTS PRISONS DEPARTMENT ANNUAL PARADE
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THERE HAD BEEN A WELCOME RELIEF TO THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWD ING IN PRISONS BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN INCREASE IN ACCOMMODATION AND OVER TEN PER CENT DECREASE IN THE PRISONER POPULATION.
SPEAKING AT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL INSPECTION PARADE AT STANLEY, SIR MURRAY SAID THE OPENING OF THE LAI CHI KOK RECEPTION CENTRE FOR 960 INMATES AND THE NEW BLOCK FOR 70 YOUNG ADULTS AT SHA TSUI WERE MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
INCREASE IN ACCOMMODATION.
HE NOTED THAT THE LAI KING TRAINING CENTRE FOR 260 AND AN EXTENSION TO THE TREATMENT CENTRE AT HEI LING CHAU FOR 200 YOUNG ADDICTS WILL BE OPENED THIS YEAR, AND WORK HAS COMMENCED ON A NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK ON LANTAU ISLAND.
SIR MURRAY INSPECTED THE PARADE AND LATER PRESENTED COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDALS TO 40 PRISON OFFICERS INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER FOR PRISONS, MR. TOM GARNER.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL INSPECTION PARADE :
+SINCE LAST YEAR'S ANNUAL INSPECTION THERE HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS. THERE HAS BEEN A WELCOME RELIEF TO THE PROBLEM OF OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS, BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN INCREASE IN CERTIFIED ACCOMMODATION, AND A REDUCTION IN THE PRISONER POPULATION OF ABOUT 10 PER CENT.
+ THE OPENING OF THE LAI CHI KOK RECEPTION CENTRE FOR 960 INMATES AND THE NEW CELL BLOCK FOR 70 YOUNG ADULTS AT SHA TSUI WERE MAINLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCREASE IN ACCOMMODATION. ALTHOUGH THE CHATHAM ROAD PRISON IS TO BE GIVEN UP SHORTLY, THE LAI KING TRAINING CENTRE FOR 260 AND AN EXTENSION TO THE TREATMENT CENTRE AT HET LING CHAU FOR 200 YOUNG ADDICTS WILL BE OPENED LATER THIS YEAR. FOR THE FUTURE - WORK HAS COMMENCED ON A NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK ON LANTAU.
+I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THIS VIGOROUS PROGRAMME OF CONSTRUCTION HAS RELIEVED SOME OF THE DAY-TO-DAY PRESSURE ON PRISONS STAFF, AND THAT MORE INTENSIVE STAFF TRAINING IS ADVANCING YOUR ALREADY HIGH STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE. I WELCOME THE NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL UNIT WHICH SHOULD MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.
+ THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRISON INDUSTRIES SHOULD NOW GATHER MOMENTUM AS SPECIALIST STAFF ARE SECURED. THIS SHOULD SAVE PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND ALSO AID THE REHABILITATION OF PRISONERS.
/+IN THE DEFENTION