XN000022-1976-07-10 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1976

PENAL INSTITUTIONS FREE FROM DRUGS

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HONG KONG'S PENAL INSTITUTIONS ARE NOW FREE FROM DRUGS AND CONTROLS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE DETERIORATION IN THIS SITUATION.

THIS WAS STATED BY AN EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR, MR. SZETO WAI AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 56 OFFICERS AND ASSISTANT OFFICERS OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT AT THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY TODAY (SATURDAY).

MR. SZETO SAID: IT IS HEARTENING TO KNOW THAT THE SERIOUS PROBLEM OF ILLICIT DRUGS WHICH PLAGUED STANLEY PRISON IN THE PAST HAS BEEN FIRMLY DEALT WITH.+

ON OVERCROWDING IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID IT WAS A SERIOUS AND PERENNIAL PROBLEM.

HE NOTED THAT BOTH THE VICTORIA RECEPTION CENTRE AND STANLEY PRISON, HAD BOTH BEEN FORCED UPON THEM A POPULATION MORE THAN TWICE THEIR DESIGNED CAPACITY, AND THEIR CONDITIONS IN THIS RESPECT FELL VERY SHORT OF THE REQUIREMENTS AS LAID DOWN IN THE STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ADOPTED BY THE UNITED NATIONS.

MR. SZETO WAI EMPHASISED THAT SUCH SERIOUS OVERCROWDING GAVE RISE TO MANY DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS OF HEALTH, DISCIPLINE AND, ABOVE ALL, SECURITY.

+ IT IS THEREFORE ENCOURAGING TO KNOW THAT THE NEW RECEPTION CENTRE AT LAI CHI KOK WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1977 WHICH WILL REPLACE THE AGED AND INADEQUATE VICTORIA RECEPTION CENTRE.+

HOWEVER, MR. SZETO WAI ADDED THAT A SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION IN HONG KONG'S PRISONS FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONERS CONTINUED TO PRESENT A VERY SPECIAL PROBLEM WHICH MUST BE RESOLVED WITH URGENCY.

IN THIS VEIN, HE SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT MEASURES WOULD BE EXPEDITED TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING SECURITY AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN STANLEY PRISON.

MR. SZETO WAI POINTED OUT THAT IN 1973 SPECIALISTS IN PRISON ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING WERE CONSULTED AND HAD MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS BUILDING PROPOSALS.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS CARRIED OUT CANNOT BE OVER-EMPHASISED IN THE FACE OF HONG KONG'S RAPIDLY INCREASING CRIME RATE RESULTING IN A GROWING PENAL POPULATION COMPRISING LARGELY OF INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED CRIMINALS.

IN SUMMING UP. MR. SZETO WAI SAID THAT PRISONS INDUSTRIES MUST BE GIVEN GREATER IMPETUS BECAUSE IT PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE REHABILIATATION OF PRISONERS.

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