XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976

+WE PROPOSE TO INCLUDE THEM NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS BEING MADE TO PREVENT ABUSE,+ KE SAID.

+WE THINK THESE SHOULD INCLUDE A RESIDENCE QUAL IF ICATION, A DEFINED PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT, AS WELL AS SERVICES TO ASSIST APPLICANTS TO FIND WORK AND TO CHECK ON THEIR SITUATION BUT OF COURSE ADMINISTERED WITH HUMAMINITY.

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+ IT DO NOT THINK ATTEMPTS AT ABUSE ON A SIGNIFICANT SCALE LIKELY IN THIS HARD WORKING AND SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITY, AND SO FAR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAS BEEN ABUSED REMARKABLY LITTLE. +

DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME TO BE EXTENDED

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO EXTEND AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME TO OFFENDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 21 AND 25, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.

IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT THE DETENTION CENTRE CONTINUED TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH OFFENDERS AGED FROM 14 TO 20.

+BUT THE NUMBER OF PERSONS UNDER 21 CONVICTED OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE HAS DROPPED AND THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE 21 TO 30 AGE GROUP, HE SAID.

A DETENTION CENTRE FOR OFFENDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF

21 AND 25 WILL BE OPENED NEXT APRIL, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT INSPITE OF RAPID EXPANSION OF PRISON ACCOMMODATION IN THE LAST 2-1/2 YEARS, MORE WAS STILL NEEDED TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING.

+THE NEW RECEPTION CENTRE FOR ABOUT 1,000 AT LAI CHI KOK AND THE NEW TRAINING CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT, BOTH OF WHICH OPEN NEXT YEAR SHOULD HELP CONSIDERABLY.

+ BUT FURTHER HIGH SECURITY ACCOMMODATION IS NEEDED AND PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT TO YOU FOR A NEW PRISON FOR 400 AT SHEK PIK FOR COMPLETION IN 1980, + HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY ALSO REVEALED THAT AN EXPERT ON PRISON INDUSTRIES WOULD BE COMING TO HONG KONG EARLY NEXT YEAR TO HELP SPEED UP THE EXPANSION OF PRISON INDUSTRIES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

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