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Post-Release Supervision Scheme comes into operation tomorrow
The Post-Release Supervision Scheme, which aims at helping certain discharged prisoners to reintegrate into the society, will come into operation tomorrow (November 30), a Government spokesman said today (Friday).
The scheme places certain categories of prisoners under supervision after early release. Its objective is to provide them with guidance and assistance to help them return to society and lead a normal, useful life, thus minimising recidivism.
"The scheme is necessary because many prisoners, after serving long periods in prisons and with limited preparation for what to expect after their release, often did not know how best to reintegrate into the society in a law abiding manner," the spokesman explained.
Under the scheme, an independent and statutory Post-Release Supervision Board will consider each eligible prisoner's case to determine whether he should be granted early release subject to supervision, and if so, make a supervision order specifying the conditions and length of supervision.
The spokesman stressed that the supervision period under this scheme would not be longer than the remitted part of the prisoner's sentence granted under the current penal system.
"Since the original sentence imposed by the court would not be increased, the period of supervision is not an extension of the prisoner's sentence," he said.
"Rather, it may be viewed as an alternative method, in the form of after-care supervision, of completing the punishment set by the court."
The scheme is applicable to prisoners serving sentences of six years or more and those prisoners sentenced to two years or more for specific types of offences, such as triad-related offences, sexual offences and crimes of violence.
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New fare scale for green minibuses
The Transport Department has given approval for an increase in the fare ceilings of green minibus (GMB) services from December 1, a spokesman for the department said today (Friday).
"The new scale sets out the maximum fares which may be charged for GMB services at different journey distance," he said.