SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1978
S.W.D.'S GIRLS' HOME MOVES TO MODERN COMPLEX
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S MA TAU WEI GIRLS' HOME HAS MOVED TO A $4 MILLION MODERN COMPLEX IN HO MAN TIN WITH MORE
ROOM AND BETTER TRAINING FACILITIES.
NOW KNOWN AS THE HO MAN TIN GIRLS' HOME, IT REPLACES THE OLD HOMES AS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FIVE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL TRAINING TO YOUNG OFFENDERS AND YOUNG PERSONS IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION.
THE NEW GIRLS' HOME COMPRISES A TWO-STOREY BLOCK WHICH ACCOMMODATES TRAINING, RESIDENTIAL AND ADMINISTRATION FACILITIES, AND A SIX-STOREY BLOCK USED AS STAFF DORMITORIES.
APART FROM IMPROVED TRAINING FACILITIES, THE NEW GIRLS' HOME ALSO HOUSES A LIBRARY, AN ASSEMBLY HALL, COMMON ROOMS FOR TELEVISION AND INTEREST GROUPS, AS WELL AS A BASKETBALL COURT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE NEW HOME HAS A CAPACITY FOR 144 GIRLS WHILE THE ONE IN MA TAU WEI ROAD COULD ACCOMMODATE ONLY 60.
HE SAID THE HO MAN TIN GIRLS' HOME SERVES AS A COMBINED REMAND AND PROBATION INSTITUTION, AS WELL AS A PLACE OF REFUGE, FOR GIRLS AGED BETWEEN SEVEN AND 18.
IT PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR GIRLS WHO ARE PLACED ON PROBATION WITH A SPECIAL CONDITION OF RESIDENCE FOR A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR.
DURING THE RESIDENTIAL PERIOD HE SAID, THE HOME MAINTAINS CLOSE CONTACTS BETWEEN THE GIRLS, THEIR PARENTS AND PROBATION STAFF WITH A VIEW TO RETURNING THE GIRLS TO THE IR FAMILY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT ALSO SERVES AS A DETENTION CENTRE FOR GIRLS PUT ON REMAND FOR A PERIOD UP TO SIX MONTHS, HE SAID.
AND AS A PLACE OF REFUGE, THE HOME PROVIDES TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR GIRLS WHO ARE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE HOME RUNS FOR THE INMATES A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES WITH STRESS ON CHARACTER TRAINING THROUGH À DISCIPLINED ROUTINE, POSITIVE GUIDANCE AND INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION.
TRAINING PROGRAMMES INCLUDE CASE AND GROUP COUNSELLING. CLASSROOM TEACHING AND PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES GEARED TO THE INMATES' REHABILITATION AND RE-EDUCATION, HE SAID.
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