FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1983
+ IN SIX MONTHS IT HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MORE THAN 3 000 REFUGEES. IT HAS PRODUCED, WITH THE HELP OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE ACCOMMODATION FOR THEM AND RECRUITED SPECIALISED STAFF.
+IN SHORT IT HAS ESTABLISHED WELL RUN CLOSED CAMPS,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE READILY UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS TASK WAS NOT ONE TO WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WAS ACCUSTOMED NOR ONE WHICH IT NECESSARILY WELCOMED.
+BUT THE TASK IS IMPORTANT AND THE RESULTS REFLECT GREAT CREDIT ON THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THE DEPARTMENT PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IN THE COMMUNITY AND HE WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT MORALE WAS HIGH AND RECRUITMENT IMPROVING.
RECRUITMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE PENAL POPULATION HAS BEEN GROWING, FROM SLIGHTLY UNDER 7 000 IN JANUARY 1982 TO OVER 7 900 TODAY, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID A NEW PENAL INSTITUTION HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMMISSIONED AT TUNG TAU, ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS WOULD BE OPENED LATER THIS YEAR ON HEI LING CHAU, AND A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON WOULD BE OPENED AT SHEK PIK.
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS FORWARD LOOK ING, NOT ONLY IN THE HUMANE YET FIRM AND EFFICIENT TREATMENT OF INMATES, BUT ALSO IN ITS SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES.+
THE GOVERNOR ALSO SPOKE OF THE TWO NEW SCHEMES STARTED BY THE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRST BEING A PERMANENT HALF-WAY HOUSE PROVIDING A TEMPORARY HOME FOR FORMER DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE INMATES, AND THE SECOND A PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME FOR SELECTED PRISONERS TO WORK FOR OUTSIDE EMPLOYERS DURING PRESCRIBED PERIODS BEFORE COMPLETION OF THEIR SENTENCES.
AT THE CEREMONY HELD AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY, SIR EDWARD ALSO PRESENTED COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDALS TO 31 OFFICERS FOR HAVING GIVEN 18 YEARS' EXEMPLARY SERVICE.
SEVEN CONTINGENTS COMPRISING 200 OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS TOOK PART IN THE PARADE, COMMANDED BY SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, MR WONG WAN-CHIU.
MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES WERE PROVIDED BY THE CAPE COLLINSON MARCHING BAND AND THE TAI TAM GIRLS' PIPERS AND PRECISION MARCHING TEAM.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH :
+I AM VERY GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY TO CONDUCT MY FIRST REVIEW OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, WHICH PLAY SUCH AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND CRDER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
/BECAUSE OF
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