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This work included wall painting, general cleaning, grass cutting, furniture repair and renewal and fence repairing.
In addition to helping get the school off the ground, the staff and prisoners of the two institutions also helped carry out road and path improvement works at the Hong Kong Red Cross Shek Pik Youth Camp and a nursery at Cheung Sha
In Tuen Mun area, staff and inmates of Tai Lam Correctional Institution (TLCI) have helped to instil a sense of security for residents by carry out grass-cutting work in places where long grass provided cover for dubious characters. These included the areas along Tuen Mun Pier and various places along the Light Railway Transit line.
Another notable project undertaken by the TLCI work teams was the re- construction of the campus of the Wai Chuen Kindergarten in Yuen Long as well as grass cutting at Kadoorie Agricultural Research Centre of the University of Hong Kong.
Staff and inmates of Ma Hang Prison have been providing grass cutting and cleansing services over the past few years, to a number of charitable organisations in Southern District such as Marycove Centre, Cheshire Home and Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. They have also carried out maintenance work at Ocean Park and the MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
Although much of the community service projects carried out by the department normally involve physical work, the assistance provided by the Tai Lam Centre for Women require a bit more skill and a steady hand.
Each month, staff of the centre supervise a group of inmates, who volunteer for the job, in rendering hair cut and manicure services to female residents of elderly homes in Tuen Mun arca.
"In addition to helping the elderly who otherwise have difficulty in acquiring such services on a regular basis, the aim of the service is to train inmates in inter- personal skills, instil a sense of achievement and to help them build up awareness and self esteem," said the spokesman.
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