FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1987
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CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES +HUMANE, FIRM AND EFFICIENT+
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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (FRIDAY) DESCRIBED HONG KONG'S CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES TOWARD OFFENDERS AS +HUMANE YET FIRM AND EFFICIENT+.
SPEAKING AT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL INSPECTION AT STANLEY, SIR DAVID SAID GOOD CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES HELP OFFENDERS LEAD A LAW-ABIDING AND USEFUL LIFE ON THE IR RELEASE.
+THE DEPARTMENT HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNISED AS FORWARD LOOKING IN ITS HUMANE YET FIRM AND EFFICIENT TREATMENT TOWARDS OFFENDERS AND HAS CONTINUED TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL INTEREST BOTH IN THE METHODS IT USES AND IN THE RESULTS IT ACHIEVES, HE SAID.
+THE SUCCESS OF YOUR EFFORTS CLEARLY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. +
SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS GLAD THAT MUCH EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION OF OFFENDERS, PARTICULARLY YOUNG INMATES. LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 153 INMATES TOOK PART IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS AND THE AVERAGE PASS RATE WAS OVER 90 PER CENT.
+THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCOUTING AND GUIDING ACTIVITIES WITHIN YOUNG OFFENDER INSTITUTIONS IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD AND WILL ASSIST THEM IN BECOMING LAW-ABIDING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FURTHER PROMOTE THE REHABILITATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS. A YOUNG OFFENDER PANEL, RECOMMENDED BY THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO ADVISE COURTS ON THE MOST APPROPRIATE SENTENCES FOR CONVICTED YOUNG OFFENDERS, WAS BEING SET UP AND PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE THE PRE- RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME AND THE RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME WERE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED.
+THESE SCHEMES SEEK TO HELP OFFENDERS FROM REVERTING TO CRIME AFTER THEY LEAVE PRISON, AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO TAKE UP OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT DURING THE IR SENTENCES UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE.+
SIR DAVID THEN PAID SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS EFFORTS IN MANAGING CLOSED CENTRES FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND IMPROVING LIVING CONDITIONS IN THEM.
+WE RECOGNISE THAT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THE REFUGEE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG. SIR DAVID SAID. BUT WHILE THE REFUGEES ARE IN OUR CARE, WE MUST LOOK AFTER THEM, +
SIR DAVID ALSO PRESENTED COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 25 OFFICERS AND STAFF WHO HAD SERVED THE DEPARTMENT WELL IN THE LAST 18 YEARS.
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