XN000022-1976-01-23 — Page 4

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1976

PRISONS DEPARTMENT MAKING +GOOD PROGRESS+

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GOVERNOR

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THAT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT WAS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS IN ITS EXPANSION PROGRAMME AND IN THE TRAINING OF ITS STAFF.

IN THIS WAY, HE SAID, PRISONS STAFF COULD BE EQUIPPED TO CARRY OUT THEIR PRIME FUNCTION OF PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY FROM ITS OWN WORST ELEMENTS, WHILST ENSURING THAT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO REFORM AND REHABILITATE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.+

SIR MURRAY WAS ADDRESSING THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL INSPECTION AT STANLEY THIS AFTERNOON AT WHICH TEN CONTINGENTS FROM 15 PENAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE TOOK PART.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO TOOK THE OCCASION TO PRESENT COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDALS AND CLASPS TO 40 PRISON OFFICERS AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CIVILIAN STAFF.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF HIS SPEECH:

WHEN 1 ADDRESSED YOU AT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION IN DECEMBER, 1974, I SPOKE ABOUT THE STEPS BEING TAKEN TO DEAL WITH OVER CROWDING IN THE PRISONS. SINCE THEN, PIK UK PRISON FOR 600 AND THE HEI LING CHAU DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE FOR 365 HAVE BEEN OPENED. TODAY, IN ADDITION, THE PIK VK CORRECTIO' AL INSTITUTION FOR 400 YOUNG OFFENDERS COMES INTO OPERATION. THE CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAI CHI KOK RECEPTION CENTRE FOR 960 WILL BE LET VERY SOON. WORK ON IMPROVING THE SECURITY OF STANLEY PRISON WILL CONTINUE. SO PROGRESS IS REING MADE. CLEARLY YOU MUST HAVE THE BUILDINGS IN WHICH TO DO YOUR JOB.

+ HAVE NO DOUBT THAT BEFORE CRIME IS BEATEN THE PRISON POPULAT N WILL INCR 49E. IN THE LAST YEAR IT ROSE FROM 8,000 TO OVER 8,500 AND TH. NUMBER OF THOSE RECEIVING AFTER CARE'' FROM 2,900 TC 3.400. SO YOU MUST EXPECT THE DEMANDS ON YOUR DEPARTMENT ONTINUE TO INCREASE.

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+TO MECT THESE DEMANDS YOU YOURSELVES MUST BE PROPERLY TRAINED AND IT IS RELEVANT THAT YOU ARE A STRIKINGLY YOUNG SERVICE. I AM THEREFORE PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO NOTE THE PROGRESS IN THIS FIE D. IT IS A REMARKABLE RECORD TO HAVE ORGANISED NO LESS THAN 83 COURSES IN THE PAST YEAR FOR AS MANY AS 1,700 STAFF. IN THIS WAY YOU CAN BE EQUIPPED TO CARRY OUT YOUR PRIME FUNCTION OF PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY FROM ITS OWN WURST ELEMENTS, WHILST ENSURING THAT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO REFORM AND REHABILITATE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

/+I AM