FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1990
CSD DOING IMPORTANT AND DIFFICULT WORK
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS DOING IMPORTANT WORK WHICH HAS NOW BECOME VERY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AS A RESULT OF OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS AND STAFF SHORTAGES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
AND
BRING IMPRISONED, THE DEPARTMENT'S 30,000 VIETNAMESE
THE OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS WAS CAUSED MAINLY BY THE LARGE GROWING NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WHILE STAFF SHORTAGES WERE EXACERBATED BY INVOLVEMENT IN MANAGING DETENTION CENTES FOR OVER BOAT PEOPLE, MR ASPREY SAID.
"I HAVE TO SAY THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE LIKELY TO BB WITH US FOR SOME TIME YET, MR ASPREY SAID WHEN OFFICIATING AT A PASSING OUT PARADE OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFFICERS.
"ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA HAS BECOME ONCE AGAIN A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO DEMONSTRATE FIRMLY THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF AN AMNESTY OR ANY RELAXATION IN OUR POLICY," HE SAID.
"ONLY WHEN THIS MESSAGE GETS HOME ARB WE LIKELY TO SEE A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PRISON POPULATION.
**
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO RETAIN A RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
"BUT HERE I HOPE I CAN OFFER SOME PROSPECT OF GRADUAL RELIEF,
HE SAID.
蛐
"THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY RELINQUISHED ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR REFUGEE CENTRES; IF ARRIVALS REMAIN LOW, AND THE PRESENT RATE OF REPATRIATION IS MAINTAINED OR INCREASED, I BELIEVED THAT WE SHALL BY THE END OF THE YEAR BE ABLE TO CLOSE SOME OF THE SMALLER DETENTION CENTRES, FOR EXAMPLE AT NEI KWU, CHI MA WAN (LOWER), AND CAPE COLLISON."
THIS SHOULD HELP EASE, THOUGH ONLY IN A SMALL WAY, STAFFING AND ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS, MR ASPREY SAID.
HE SAID THAT DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES, THE DEPARTMENT HAS MAINTAINED ITS HIGH STANDARDS IN ALL AREAS OF ITS OPERATIONS, AND HAS INDEED CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE ITS PROGRAMMES OF AFTERCARE, EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AS WELL AS CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES.
"THE SERVICE AS A WHOLE HAS MET THE CHALLENGES AND OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES. THIS IS THE TRUE MEASURE OF A SERVICE WITH HIGH STANDARDS, PROFESSIONAL PRIDE AND GOOD MORALE, HE SAID.
+4
/MR ASPREY
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