XN000022-1983-01-21 — Page 11

FRIDA, JANUARY 21, 1983

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BECAUSE OF THIS ESSENTIAL ROLE I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT MORALE IS HIGH AND THAT RECRUITMENT IS IMPROVING. RECRUITMENT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE PENAL POPULATION HAS BEEN GROWING, FROM SLIGHTLY UNDER 7 000 IN JANUARY 1982 TO OVER 7 900 TODAY. TO MEET THIS INCREASE, A NEW PENAL INSTITUTION AS COMMISSIONED RECENTLY AT TUNG TAU. ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS WILL BE OPENED LATER THIS YEAR ON HEI LING CHAU. A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON WILL BE OPENED AT SHEK PIK.

AND

+THE DEPARTMENT HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNISED AS FORWARD LOOKING, NOT ONLY IN THE HUMANE YET FIRM AND EFFICIENT TREATMENT OF INMATES, BUT ALSO IN ITS SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES. THE SUCCESS RATES FOR THESE PROGRAMMES ARE HIGH BY WORLD STANDARDS: 94 PER CENT OF THOSE RELEASED FROM DETENTION CENTRES, 67 PER CENT OF DISCHARGEES FROM DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES AND 66 PER CENT OF ALL INMATES RELEASED FROM TRAINING CENTRES DID NOT REVERT TO CRIME DURING THE ONE TO THREE YEARS THEY WERE UNDER SUPERVISION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE HIGH SUCCESS RATES, THE DEPARTMENT STILL SEEKS WAYS TO IMPROVE THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES.

+1 SHOULD MENTION TWO NEW SCHEMES. THE FIRST IS A PERMANENT HALF-WAY HOUSE WHICH WILL PROVIDE A TEMPORARY HOME FOR FORMER INMATES OF DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES, UNTIL SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION CAN BE FOUND FOR THEM. THE SECOND IS A PRE-RELEASE EMPLOYMENT SCHEME WHICH WILL ENABLE SELECTED PRISONERS TO WORK FOR OUTSIDE EMPLOYERS DURING PRESCRIBED PERIODS BEFORE COMPLETION OF THEIR SENTENCES, THUS EASING THEIR REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY.

+OF THE MORE CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF REHABILITATION, I ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES. IF A PRISONER BY THE TIME HE IS RELEASED HAS ACQUIRED A RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION, THE LIKELIHOOD OF HIS RETURNING TO CRIME MUST BE REDUCED SUBSTANTIALLY. FOR THIS REASON THE DEPARTMENT'S VOCATIONAL TRAINING SYLLABUSES ARE GEARED TO EXAMINATIONS SET BY EXTERNAL EXAMINING BODIES. THEREBY ACCORDING PROPER RECOGNITION TO THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS BEING ACHIEVED BY INMATES. THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO DISCUSSING WITH THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HOW TO ACHIEVE WIDER RECOGNITION FOR THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES.

+1 WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S EXCELLENT WORK IN THE MANAGEMENT OF REFUGEES CAMPS. IT HAS RESPONDED TO THIS NEW AND UNUSUAL DEMAND WITH PATIENCE AND EFFICIENCY. IN SIX MONTHS IT HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR MORE THAN 3 000 REFUGEES. IT HAS PRODUCED, WITH THE HELP OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS, THE ACCOMMODATION FOR THEM AND RECRUITED THE NECESSARY SPECIALISED STAFF. IN SHORT IT HAS ESTABLISHED WELL RUN CLOSED CAMPS. I READILY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TASK IS NOT ONE TO WHICH THE DEPARTMENT IS ACCUSTOMED NOR ONE WHICH IT NECESSARILY WELCOMES, BUT THE TASK IS IMPORTANT AND THE RESULTS REFLECT GREAT CREDIT ON THE DEPARTMENT.

+TO CONCLUDE, I CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU ON PARADE TODAY ON YOUR BEARING AND TURNOUT. I WISH THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COMPLETED YOUR BASIC TRAINING EVERY SUCCESS IN YOUR CAREERS. YOU HAVE JOINED A SERVICE WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF WHICH YOU CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD.+

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