XN000022-1973-12-07 — Page 5

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Friday, December 7, 1973

GOVERNOR OUTLINES FURTHER MEASURES TO IMPROVE PRISONS SYSTEM

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An inspectorate will be set up shortly to regularly examine and

report on the efficiency and functioning of all prison institutiona in

Hong Kong, the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, announced today.

A special unit was also being planned, he added, "to co-ordinate

intelligence and other work in the Prisons Department, against triadê, harcotics

and corruption."

Speaking at the annual parade of the Prisons Department at Stanley,

the Governor said these measures followed the disturbances at Stanley

Prison last April which demonstrated the need to modernise facilities there

and to review the organization and management of the department.

He said: "Many changes have been made, or are in hand,' These

included the strengthening of senior management to take care of various

specialised aspects of prison work such as prison industries, vocational

training, nursing and after-care.

Additional posts were also being created at the middle management

level to ensure that specific tasks, particularly dealing with security,

receive closer attention. "Coupled with this is the progressive and

continuing introduction of new security measures at Stanley Prison itself."

Commenting on the detention centre scheme, Sir Murray noted that

the success of the first detention centre had led to a second one being built

this year, and had encouraged the government to believe that it should make

such centres permanent feature in the fight against crime.

Many