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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1979
IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THE TROPHY WILL BE AWARDED ANNUALLY, ON SECRET BALLOT. TO THE MEMBER OF THE PRISON OFFICER'S CLUB WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CLUB DURING THE YEAR. DR. AND MRS. YAP HAVE ALSO PRESENTED FIVE MINATURES OF THE TROPHY, TO BE KEPT BY AWARDEES.
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880 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH PRISONS DEPARTMENT
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THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR. T.G. GARNER, TODAY (FRIDAY) PRESENTED COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDALS AND CLASPS TO 32 PRISONS DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBERS WHO BETWEEN THEM HAVE 880 YEARS OF SERVICE.
THE PRESENTATION TOOK PLACE DURING A CEREMONIAL PARADE AT THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AT STANLEY THIS AFTERNOON.
ON PARADE WERE 126 OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE BAND FROM THE CAPE COLLINSON TRAINING CENTRE.
THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL IS PRESENTED FOR 18 YEARS SERVICE THE FIRST CLASP TO THE MEDAL IS AWARDED FOR A TOTAL OF
THESE 25 YEARS SERVICE AND THE SECOND CLASP FOR 30 YEARS SERVICE. AWARDS MAY ONLY BE MADE TO OFFICERS WITH CONTINUOUS AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE.
DUE TO LEAVE AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES, FIVE OF THE AWARDEES COULD NOT ATTEND THE PARADE.
AMONG THE RECIPIENTS WAS MR. POON LAI-CHIU, A 47-YEAR-OLD SENIOR CLERICAL OFFICER WHO JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 1953 AS A TEMPORARY CLERK, AND WHO TODAY RECEIVED HIS FIRST CLASP TO THE MEDAL AWARDED IN 1971.
MR. POON HAS WORKED IN THE MAJORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S INSTITUTIONS, AND IS NOW AT THE HEADQUARTERS WORKING ON A SPECIAL PROJECT. HE IS AN OUTSTANDING SPORTSMAN, WELL KNOWN IN HONG KONG AS A LEADING SOFT-BALL PLAYER, BEING THE BATTING CHAMPION IN 1957 AND 1963. A TALENTED ATHLETE, HE HAS TAKEN PART IN EVERY MAJOR DEPARTMENTAL SPORTS MEETING SINCE HE JOINED, AND STILL MAINTAINS AN ACTIVE INTEREST THROUGH TRAINING AND ORGANISATION ACTIVITIES.
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