XN000022-1979-01-26 — Page 3

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+THIS IS AN ACHIEVEMENT ATTAINED IN VERY FEW COUNTRIES INDEED, HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUTE TO THE MANY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE WHO HELP THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT ENSURE THAT INMATES ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND WITH HUMANITY.

+1 PERSONALLY REGARD THE VISITS AS VERY IMPORTANT AND AM MOST GRATEFUL TO THE MANY JP'S WHO MAKE TIME FOR THESE DUTIES,+ HE ADDED.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH

+ONCE AGAIN, I AM PLEASED TO INSPECT THIS ANNUAL PARADE AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF ADDRESSING STAFF OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

+THE TREND TOWARDS A LOWER PRISON POPULATION CONTINUED IN 1978. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS THERE WAS NO OVERCROWDING. THIS, AND THE EMPHASIS YOUR COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN PLACING ON THE NEED TO RETHINK PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS TO ENSURE THEY ARE CARRIED OUT TO THE FULL, SHOULD HAVE A BENEFICIAL EFFECT ON THE SUCCESS RATES AND PROVIDE SPACE AND CAPACITY IN WHICH TO ACHIEVE A MUCH NEEDED EXPANSION OF PRISON INDUSTRIES.

WITH THE OPENING OF LAI KING TRAINING CENTRE IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, IT BECAME POSSIBLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL MALE YOUNG OFFENDERS IN INSTITUTIONS SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FOR THIS AGE GROUP AN ACHIEVEMENT ATTAINED IN VERY FEW COUNTRIES INDEED.

+THE YEAR END SAW YOUR DEPARTMENT ASSISTING WITH THE LARGE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THE SPEED AND SPIRIT WITH WHICH YOU MET THIS CHALLENGE.

+DESPITE THE LOWER PRISON POPULATION, THERE IS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PRISONERS SERVING LONG TERM SENTENCES OF MORE THAN SIX YEARS. THERE ARE NOW 700 COMPARED WITH 600 TWO YEARS AGO.

+MANY ARE HARDENED CRIMINALS WHO PRESENT A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR YOU. FOR CONTROL AS WELL AS SECURITY IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT LARGE NUMBERS ARE NOT CONCENTRATED IN A SINGLE INSTITUTION.

+STANLEY PRISON HOLDS THE BULK OF SUCH PRISONERS BUT THE NEW PRISON AT SHEK PIK, DUE FOR COMPLETION IN 1981, WILL RELIEVE THE SITUATION.

+THE PSYCHOLOGICAL UNIT ESTABLISHED IN 1977 IS PROVING ITS VALUE, PARTICULARLY IN ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF PRISONERS FOR THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES AND IN ADVISING ON THE BEST METHODS OF DEALING WITH THE MORE DIFFICULT TYPES.

+IN FULFILLING PRISONS PROGRAMMES, I AM AWARE OF THE EMPHASIS PLACED ON THE NEED FOR INMATES TO BE TREATED FAIRLY AND WITH HUMANITY. IT IS TO ENSURE THIS THAT JUSTICES OF THE PEACE VISIT ALL INSTITUTIONS.

+1 PERSONALLY REGARD THE VISITS AS VERY IMPORTANT AND AM MOST GRATEFUL TO THE MANY JP'S WHO MAKE TIME FOR THESE DUTIES.

+1 AM PLEASED THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE SUCH GOOD PROGRESS DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND I WISH YOU EVERY SUCCESS IN THE YEAR AHEAD.+

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