XN000022-1983-06-24 — Page 14

FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1983

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AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, PRESENTED A HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPH TO THE PRINCIPAL OF THE INSTITUTE, MR PI WING-LEE.

THE PHOTOGRAPH, TAKEN AT THE FIRST FORMAL PASSING-OUT PARADE OF PRISONS STAFF AT STANLEY 32 YEARS AGO, WAS EXTRACTED FROM PR GARNER'S PERSONAL COLLECTION.

THE NEW EXTENSION, WHICH COMPRISES FOUR SEPARATE BLOCKS, PROVIDES A MUCH NEEDED BOOST TO TRAINING FACILITIES AT THE INSTITUTE TO COPE WITH THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THE MAIN BLOCK IS A SIX-STOREY BUILDING INCORPORATING 26 ROOMS FOR SINGLE OFFICERS, BARRACK ROOMS FOR 106 ASSISTANT OFFICERS, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES, LECTURE ROOMS, STAFF RECREATION ROOMS, A TRAINING COURT, TRAINING CELLS, A LIBRARY, A HOME NURSING TRAINING ROOM AND A TRAINING CONTROL ROOM.

THE SECOND BLOCK IS A FIVE-LANE INDOOR FIRING RANGE, WITH A SPECTATOR STAND ON THE ROOF OVERLOOKING THE PARADE GROUND.

THE OTHER TWO BLOCKS CONSIST OF 14 STAFF MARRIED QUARTERS A CANTEEN WITH A KITCHEN AND TWO DORMITORIES FOR 40 TRAINEES ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

NEW FACILITIES, SUCH AS THE TRAINING COURT ROOM, CELLS AND THE CONTROL ROOM, ALLOW SIMULATED AND SITUATIONAL TRAINING WHICH IS BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL TRAINING MODELLED ON CLASSROOM LECTURES.

IN THIS WAY, THE TRAINEES WILL BE ABLE TO GAIN A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WORK.

THE INDOOR FIRING RANGE COMPRISES A VENETIAN BLIND BULLET TRAP, FIVE LONGITUDINAL TARGET CONVEYING SYSTEMS WITH A MASTER CONTROL CONSOLE AND FIVE INDIVIDUAL CONTROL UNITS AND A TRANSVERSE MOVING TARGET SYSTEM.

APART FROM PROVIDING A ONE-YEAR ORIENTATION COURSE FOR ALL RECRUIT OFFICERS AND ASSISTANT OFFICERS, THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE OFFERS REGULAR REFRESHER COURSES AND COURSES ON MANPOWER MANAGEMENT, CASE AND GROUP WORK, COUNSELLING AND SECURITY ISSUES.

THE ORIGINAL STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, COMPLETED IN 1968 COMPRISED THREE MAIN BUILDINGS WHICH INCLUDED BASIC FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION FOR 120 ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND 20 OFFICERS.

WITH THE EXTENSION, THERE WILL BE TOTAL ACCOMMODATION FOR 256 ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND 46 OFFICERS AS WELL AS ADVANCED OR SPECIALIST TRAINING FACILITIES FOR 75 NON-RESIDENTIAL STAFF.

EARLIER IN THE MORNING, MR ROWLANDS VISITED THE DEPARTMENT'S TUNG TAU CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, STANLEY, AND MET STAFF MEMBERS AT WORK.

AFTER TOURING THE INSTITUTION, HE HELD GENERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT ON A WIDE

RANGE OF ISSUES CONCERNING THEIR WORK, WORKING CONDITIONS AND STAFF WELFARE.