XN000022-1984-03-30 — Page 14

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984

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NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OPENED

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THE LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION ON HEI LING CHAU WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE NEWLY BUILT MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION FOR 276 YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS BETWEEN 14 AND 21 YEARS OF AGE SERVING MEDIUM TO LONG SENTENCES.

SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE OPENING OF THE INSTITUTION WAS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG WHICH ALSO MARKED AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEI LING CHAU AS AN OPERATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAMMES RUN BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

NOTING THAT THE NUMBERS OF YOUNG OFFENDERS ADMITTED TO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS INCREASED FROM 1 200 IN 1980 TO 1 800 IN 1983, AND NOW REPRESENTED MORE THAN 18 PER CENT OF TOTAL ADMISSIONS, HE SAID THAT THE NEW INSTITUTION WOULD ENABLE THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH THE TREND AND RELEASE MUCH-NEEDED ACCOMMODATION IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS AS WELL.

THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, SAID THAT THE INSTITUTION WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AS AN EXTENSION TO THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE ON HEI LING CHAU, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL DORMITORY ACCOMMODATION WITH KITCHEN AND WORKSHOPS.

HE SAID THAT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT WITNESSED A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH A MORE INTENSIVE BUT SHORTENED TREATMENT PERIOD. MEANWHILE, THE DEMAND FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS INCREASED, AND WAS CAUSING IN PARTICULAR, OVERCROWD ING IN THE MAXIMUM SÉCURITY FACILITY AT PIK UK.

+PLANS WERE THEREFORE CHANGED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THIS SITUATION, + HE EXPLAINED.

HE SAID THAT THERE WERE AT PRESENT EIGHT INSTITUTIONS FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, A SIZABLE PROPORTION OF DEPARTMENT'S TOTAL RESOURCES.

+FOR THIS REASON, WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, THERE WILL BE AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AT HEADQUARTERS WITH THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSEEING THE PROGRAMMES CARRIED OUT IN THE INSTITUTIONS SET ASIDE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS,+ MR GARNER ANNOUNCED.

THIS ALSO ILLUSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THE TRAINING OF YOUNG OFFENDERS, HE SAID.

/AT THE