XN000022-1980-02-29 — Page 2

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1980

GOVERNOR PRAISES PRISON. SERVICE

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE PRISON SERVICE IN 1979 EARNED LAURELS BY THE PART IT PLAYED IN DEALING WITH THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT

AT ITS STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY, SIR MURRAY SAID: THIS WAS A DIFFICULT TASK CALLING FOR LEADERSHIP, INGENUITY AND DEDICATED SERVICE WHICH HAS BEEN HANDLED WITH HUMANITY AND COMPASSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS AND SAID THE PROGRAMME'S, SUCCESS RATE OF 76 PER CENT IN THE THREE YEARS FOLLOWING DISCHARGE *REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT ON ALL INVOLVED IN IT*.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PRISON INDUSTRIES EXPANSION HAS BEGUN AND OUTPUT INCREASED IN VALUE BY MORE THAN 22 PER CENT DURING THE YEAR.

+I AM SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL WELCOME THE USE THAT HAS BEEN MADE OF PRISON LABOUR IN THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS SUCH AS FIRE-FIGHTING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, OR THE ERECTION OF THE NEW BORDER FENCES, HE SAID.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR T G GARNER, SIR MURRAY INSPECTED THE PARADE FORMED BY 218 PRISON OFF ICERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

DURING THE CEREMONY, SIR MURRAY ALSO PRESENTED COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDALS TO 41 OFFICERS FOR THEIR 18 YEARS' EXEMPLARY SERVICE.

THE BAND, PIPES AND DRUMS OF TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION PROVIDED MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.

THE ANNUAL PARADE ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST ASIAN AND PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS. DELEGATES TO THE CONFERENCE ALSO ATTENDED THE PARADE.

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR AT

THE PARADE:

+ IT IS A HAPPY COINCIDENCE THAT THIS PARADE COINCIDES WITH THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST ASIAN AND PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE DISTINGUISHED OVERSEAS VISITORS HERE TODAY.

+ IN 1979 THE PRISON SERVICE EARNED LAURELS BY THE PART IT PLAYED IN DEALING WITH THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THIS WAS A DIFFICULT TASK CALLING FOR LEADERSHIP, INGENUITY AND DEDICATED SERVICE WHICH HAS BEEN HANDLED WITH HUMANITY AND COMPASSION, I AM MOST GRATEFUL FOR THE FINE SERVICE WHICH HAS BEEN RENDERED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT.

/+THE DEPARTMENT'S