SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1984'
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF PRAISED
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THE CAREER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF IS A MOST ONEROUS, SELF-SACRIFICING AND DEMANDING ONE, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR ROBERT HOLMES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
ADDRESSING A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 120 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES RECRUITS, MR HOLMES SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THEY WOULD ENCOUNTER WERE LAW-BREAKERS PAYING THE JUDICIAL PENALTY.
+THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU WILL BE SEVERELY PROVOKED BY SUCH PEOPLE,+ HE SAID TO THE RECRUITS.
BUT HE URGED THEM NOT TO DESCEND TO THE WARDS' LEVEL BY REACTING TO SUCH PROVOCATIONS.
INSTEAD, THEY SHOULD RETAIN THEIR DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT IN THE IR CAREER, AND SHOW FEELING FOR THEIR WARDS, MR HOLMES SAID.
+TREAT (THE WARDS) WITH FIRMNESS AND EQUITABILITY AS EACH OCCASION DEMANDS,+ HE ADDED.
HE TOLD THE RECRUITS THAT SINCE THEY JOINED THE DEPARTMENT,
WITH THE LIFE-STYLE OF THEIR FAMILY WOULD ALSO CHANGE TO CONFORM THE DISCIPLINE OF THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE SAID, THEY WERE PART OF A SPECIAL SOCIETY OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NURTURE AND PROTECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES IN TIME OF NEED AND EMERGENCY.
THE MR HOLMES POINTED OUT THAT IN ADDITION TO PRISONS, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ALSO OPERATED A DETENTION CENTRE, A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT, A DRUG ADDICTION CENTRE, TRAINING CENTRES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS AND CENTRES FOR REFUGEES.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SUDDEN ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES PLACED UPON THEM DURING THE EARLY MASS INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA.
AS INSPECTING OFFICER AT THE PARADE HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY, MR HOLMES ALSO PRESENTED SILVER WHISTLES TO THE TWO BEST RECRUITS, MR WONG PIK-YI AND MR CHAN FAL-WONG.
DURING THE PARADE, MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES WERE PROVIDED BY THE CAPE COLLINSON MARCHING BAND AND THE TAI TAM GAP GIRLS PIPERS AND PRECISION MARCHING TEAM.
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