XN000022-1983-07-02 — Page 4

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1983

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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PRAISED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL

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A PRSIONER IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND IS THEREFORE ENTITLED TO ENJOY HIS SELF-RESPECT, HIS PERSONAL DIGNITY AND HIS HUMAN RIGHTS LIKE ANYONE ELSE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MR MICHAEL THOMAS SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

HAVING BEEN ACCUSED OF A CRIMINAL CHARGE, TRIED AND CONVICTED BY THE DUE PROCESS OF THE LAW AND SENTENCED TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT, THE PRISONER LOSES HIS FREEDOM BY ORDER OF THE COURT AND BECOMES SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS OF PRISON RULES WHICH IS A PART OF THE LAW, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ASSISTANT OFFICERS AT STANLEY, HE SAID THAT LOSS OF FREEDOM WAS PUNISHMENT IN ITSELF AND THAT WAS ALL A PRISONER MUST SUFFER.

+MEN COME TO PRISON AS A PUNISHMENT NOT FOR PUNISHMENT,+ MR THOMAS SAID, QUOTING A FAMOUS BRITISH PENOLOGIST.

MR THOMAS SAID IT WAS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THAT A PRISONER LOST HIS FREEDOM BY WAY OF PUNISHMENT, BUT IN CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IT WAS A PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE PRISON CONDITIONS BEARABLE AND NOT A DEGRADING OR HUMILIATING EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY OUT THAT PUBLIC DUTY, HE SAID.

QUOTING CHINESE MAXIMS, HE REMINDED THE OFFICERS THAT +AS GOOD OFFICIALS, THEY MUST NOT THROW THEIR WEIGHT ABOUT,+ ALSO THAT THEY +MUST BE FAIR AND JUST AND NOT CORRUPT.+

MR THOMAS PRAISED THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR ITS SUCCESS IN CORRECTIONAL WORK WHICH WAS RECOGNISED AND ADMIRED INTERNATIONALLY. HE ATTRIBUTED THIS SUCCESS TO THE DISCIPLINE AND THE HIGH STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT EXISTED THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

MR THOMAS ALSO PRAISED THE CONDITIONS AT STANLEY PRISON WHICH HE VISITED LAST WEEK. HE REMARKED IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT STANLEY IS STREETS AHEAD OF SOME OF THE LOCAL PRISONS I HAVE VISITED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM IN TERMS OF ACCOMMODATION, SPACIOUSNESS AND WORKSHOP FACILITIES.+

→HONG KONG MUST KEEP ITS PLACE IN SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GIVE MEANING TO THE LIFE OF THE PRISONER, + HE ADDED.

MR THOMAS WAS THE INSPECTING OFFICER AT THE PARADE HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY, ON PARADE WERE 115 ASSISTANT OFFICERS WHO HAD COMPLETED THEIR SIX-MONTH BASIC TRAINING,

HE ALSO PRESENTED SILVER WHISTLES TO THE TWO BEST RECRUITS, MESSRS CHENG WAN-PO AND CHIU SHUN-FAN.

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