XN000022-1981-04-23 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1981

FOR INSTANCE, OF THE PERSONS RELEASED FROM A DETENTION CENTRE, SOME 95 PER CENT DO NOT GET INTO TROUBLE AGAIN AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE AFTER-CARE SUPERVISION. IN TREATMENT CENTRES MORE THAN 66 PER CENT DO NOT RETURN TO DRUGS BUT IN THE CASE OF WOMEN THIS FIGURE IS OVER 73 PER CENT. IN TRAINING CENTRES, WHERE THE MORE DIFFICULT TYPE OF YOUTH IS SENT FOR TRAINING, MORE THAN 53 PER CENT FOR BOYS AND 90 PER CENT FOR GIRLS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THREE YEARS AFTER-CARE SUPERVISION. REGARDING PRISONERS IN GENERAL, MEANING THOSE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT, OVER 46 PER CENT OF THOSE RELEASED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN RE-ADMITTED.

+THIS, HOWEVER, IS AN AVERAGE FIGURE NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PRISONS OR PRISONERS OR THE PETTY RECIDIVIST WHO RETURNS REGULARLY TO PRISON, HE POINTED OUT.

MR HYDES SAID THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT MORE SUCCESS IS POSSIBLE WITH ADULT PRISONERS IF EITHER PAROLE OR AFTER-CARE IS INTRODUCED, WHICH CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, STIFFENS A SENTENCE CONSIDERABLY.

HE SAID: +AS HAS BEEN PROVEN, INTENSIVE AFTER-CARE SUPERVISION CAN KEEP A PERSON ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW AND THERE IS THE EVER PRESENT THREAT OF RECALL TO PRISON SHOULD CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION TO BE CONTRAVENED. THE COMMITTING OF ANOTHER CRIME IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THIS MEASURE TO BE INVOKED.+

+WHILST THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS FOR PRESERVING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS, BREAKING THE RULES WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND I BELIEVE, THIS IS PART OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS WITH THE PRESENT AFTER-CARE SYSTEM,+ HE ADDED.

POINTING OUT THAT THE PRISONER POPULATION IN RECENT YEARS IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY VIOLENT AND THE ATTITUDE OF MANY ON ADMISSION IS VERY ANTI-AUTHORITY, MR HYDES SAID: THEREFORE CONSIDERABLE CARE MUST BE TAKEN BY THE STAFF TO MINIMISE THE POSSIBILITY OF TROUBLE.+

HE SAID LONG TERM PRISONERS, OR THOSE SERVING SENTENCES OVER SIX YEARS CAN BE PARTICULARLY VOLATILE AND GREAT CARE, SELF CONTROL AND RESTRAINT MUST BE EXERCISED ON THE PART OF THE STAFF WHEN DEALING WITH PRISONERS SERVING LIFE, OR INDETERMINATE SENTENCES, AND WHO HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

DESPITE PRECAUTIONS, HE REMARKED, ASSAULTS ON STAFF DO OCCUR

AND THIS TREND CAN BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.

MR HYDES ALSO COMMENTED ON A NEWSPAPER REPORT THIS MORNING WHICH SAID YOUNG PEOPLE WERE TERRIFIED OF GOING TO PRISON. HE SAID THE YOUNG ARE DEALT WITH QUITE SEPARATELY FROM THE REST OF THE PENAL POPULATION AND ARE HOUSED IN INSTITUTIONS SET ASIDE FOR THEM.

+ IN FACT, HONG KONG HAS ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED AND INDIVIDUALISED PENAL SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD, HE SAID.

THE YOUNG AGED 14 TO 21 WERE USUALLY DEALT WITH EITHER IN A TRAINING OR DETENTION CENTRE AND OTHERS IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION (A PART OF WHICH INCLUDES A PRISON) WITH PROGRAMMES ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THEM.

/PROVISION IS