FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1980
YOUNG INMATES OBTAIN GOOD RESULTS IN
TELECOMMUNICATION EXAMINATION
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THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAMME IN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS HAS PROVED TO BE A GREAT SUCCESS.
THIS IS REFLECTED BY THE GOOD RESULTS OBTAINED BY 18 YOUNG PRISONERS AT PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT THE RECENT TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNICIANS FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION OF THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE.
OF THE GROUP, SIX HAVE PASSED WITH DISTINCTIONS IN ALL THREE SUBJECTS IN THE EXAMINATION WHILE MOST OF THE REMAINDER PASSED THE SUBJECTS WITH EITHER DISTINCTIONS AND/OR CREDITS. THE THREE SUBJECTS ARE PRACTICAL MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND TELECOMMUNICATION PRACTICE.
AT A CEREMONY HELD IN THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TODAY (FRIDAY), THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WERE PRESENTED WITH THE CERTIFICATES BY THE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, DR KEITH LEGG, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE LOCAL SECRETARY OF THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE EXAMINATION CENTRE.
ALSO PRESENT WERE PARENTS AND RELATIVES OF THE RECIPIENTS, THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR T G GARNER, AND SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR GARNER, SAID A GOOD CORRECTIONAL SERVICE CALLED NOT ONLY FOR A HEALTHY AND UNSELFISH INPUT BY THE STAFF BUT ALSO CO-OPERATION FROM THOSE WHOM THE STAFF MUST LOOK AFTER, AND TODAY THE FRUITS OF THAT CO-OPERATION WERE WITNESSED.
HE SAID +SO LONG AS IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOUNG PERSONS TO BE CONFINED IN INSTITUTIONS, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUITABLE TO BE SUBJECTED TO A PROGRAMME WHICH CALLS FOR BOTH ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING,
+SUCH TRAINING ENABLES THEM TO BE KEPT OCCUPIED DURING THE TIME THAT THEY ARE UNDER OUR CARE, IT KEEPS THEIR MINDS ACTIVE AND PUTS TO GOOD USE THE TIME WHICH THEY MUST SPEND WITH US, IN PARTICULAR,
IT PLACES THEM IN A MORE FAVOURABLE POSITION FOLLOWING DISCHARGE.
MR GARNER SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT IT WAS VERY EASY FOR PERSONS TO BE CRITICAL OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING TODAY IN A DESTRUCTIVE RATHER THAN CONSTRUCTIVE WAY PARTICULARLY IN STRESSING FAR TOO MUCH THE DETERRENT SIDE OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S WORK WITHOUT GIVING THE REHABILITATION ASPECT PROPER CONSIDERATION.
HE ALSO ADDED THAT THE IDEA OF REHABILITATION IN A FRAMEWORK OF DISCIPLINE HAD BEEN A POLICY PRACTISED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR SOME YEARS.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, MR GARNER PRESENTED A SOUVENIR TO DR LEGG IN APPRECIATION OF THE SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION HE AND HIS STAFF HAD GIVEN IN ARRANGING THE EXAMINATION FOR THE INMATES.
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