13 -
"It is not just a question of numbers; over-crowding also gives rise to management and discipline difficulties, imposes pressure on staff, as well as undermine the quality of the care and rehabilitation programmes for the inmates. "1. would like to take this opportunity to thank the department and all its staff for maintaining high standards of professional conduct and efficient performance in the face of a difficult situation," he said.
Mr Lai also expressed his appreciation to the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Raymond Lai, and his staff for their active participation in managing Vietnamese Migrants (VM) camps, and in carrying out operations under the Orderly Repatriation Programme.
"Managing VM detention centres requires a set of skills totally different from those needed to manage penal institutions," he noted.
"Carrying out Orderly Repatriation Programme operations is a sensitive exercise which needs to be undertaken with tact, patience and courage.
"It is a credit to you that these tasks have been carried out with a high degree of professionalism and dedication, often in the face of enormous pressure and outside scrutiny, and sometimes against harsh and unfounded criticisms," he said. On the reform and rehabilitation of offenders, Mr Lai said over the years, a variety of rehabilitation programmes had been developed to cater for different types of offenders.
"This is in line with our belief that the ultimate purpose of any correctional programme is to enable inmates to turn over a new leaf and reintegrate themselves into civilised society," he said.
Noting that the Correctional Services Department had established an impressive record of success in its rehabilitation efforts, Mr Lai said the enactment of legislation earlier this year to introduce post-release supervision for adult prisoners was another initiative aimed at providing care and assistance to prisoners, thus enabling them to reintegrate into society better.
"Next year, we will be introducing legislation to provide a statutory framework to deal more effectively with prisoners serving long or indeterminate prison sentences," said Mr Lai.
End/Thursday, November 9, 1995