N
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1980
+THE DEPARTMENT'S DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS HAS BEEN A SUCCESS STORY, AND I WELCOME ITS EXPANSION THROUGH THE OPENING OF THE NEW DETENTION CENTRE AT NEI KWU CHAU ON HEI LING CHAU. THIS PROGRAMME'S SUCCESS RATE OF 76 PER CENT IN THE THREE YEARS FOLLOWING DISCHARGE, REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON ALL INVOLVED IN IT.
+NEARER HOME I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THE COMMISSIONER ATTACHES TO TWO BUILDING PROJECTS. FIRSTLY THE EXTENSION TO THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, AND SECONDLY THE NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK. THE LATTER IS NECESSARY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL PRISON POPULATION HAS REMAINED STATIC THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS SERVING LONG SENTENCES. CONTRACTS FOR BOTH THESE PROJECTS WILL BE LET DURING THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR.
*THE FIRST PHASE OF THE EXPANSION OF PRISON INDUSTRIES HAS BEGUN AND OUTPUT INCREASED IN VALUE BY MORE THAN 22 PER CENT DURING THE YEAR. I AM SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL WELCOME THE USE THAT HAS BEEN MADE OF PRISON LABOUR IN THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS SUCH AS FIRE-FIGHTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, OR THE ERECTION OF THE NEW BORDER FENCES.
+FINALLY WISH TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY IN SETTING UP THE FIRST CONFERENCE OF ASIAN AND PACIFIC CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS.
I WISH YOU ALL, BOTH PARTICIPANTS AND MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF, SUCCESS IN THE YEAR AHEAD, AND I CONGRATULATE THOSE ON PARADE ON THE IR SMART TURN-OUT.+
CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE ENDS
******
THE FIRST ASIAN AND PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS ENDED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE FIVE-DAY CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY ADMINISTRATORS OF PRISONS AND OTHER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS FROM 13 TERRITORIES, NAMELY AUSTRALIA, INDONESIA, JAPAN, MACAU, MALAYSIA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, THE PHILIPPINES, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, TONGA, WESTERN SAMOA, HONG KONG AND CANADA. SINGAPORE WHICH WAS INVITED WAS NOT REPRESENTED IN THE CONFERENCE.
THE FOLLOWING IS A JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE DELEGATES AT THE END OF CONFERENCE:-
+THE FIRST ASIAN AND PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS ORGANISED BY THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY IN COOPERATION WITH THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT HONG KONG ENDED TODAY.
/+THIS IS