XN000022-1985-03-22 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1985

REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS

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AN IMPORTANT TASK

HONG KONG ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE TASK OF CORRECTION AND REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS WHICH WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE SYSTEM OF LAW AND ORDER, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY. THE PARADE ALSO MARKED THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS.

THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SIR EDWARD SAID, OPERATED A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS.

+THESE PROGRAMMES ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWED AND BROUGHT UP TO DATE TO INCLUDE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN CORRECTIONAL THINKING AND TECHNIQUES, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD SAID 1984 SAW THE COMPLETION OF A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK, THE STANLEY WORKSHOP COMPLEX AND HOSPITAL EXTENSION, AND BAUHINIA HOUSE A HALF WAY HOUSE FOR GIRLS.

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES HAD ALSO CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY. TWO NEW TRADES, LEATHER WORK AND KNITTING, WERE ADDED IN 1984 TO THE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES AND THE TOTAL COMMERCIAL VALUE OF GOODS AND SERVICES AMOUNTED TO $99 MILLION, WHICH MEANT AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 50 PER CENT OVER 1983.

+THESE INDUSTRIES PROVIDE INMATES WITH SKILLS WHICH WILL HELP THEM TO FIND WORK WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED, HE SAID,

SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT GREAT IMPORTANCE WAS ATTACHED TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.

LAST YEAR, 19 OF THE 20 INMATES WHO SAT FOR THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE EXAMINATION FOR TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNICIANS PASSED AND MOST OF THEM WITH DISTINCTIONS.

IN ADDITION, 17 INMATES PASSED THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY BOOK-KEEPING EXAMINATION, AND 14 FEMALE OFFENDERS PASSED THE PITMAN'S TYPE-WRITING EXAMINATION.

SIR EDWARD ALSO PRAISED THE DEPARTMENT FOR PERFORMING THE +ONEROUS AND THANKLESS TASK OF MANAGING CLOSED CENTRES FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

+GREAT CREDIT IS DUE TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE WAY IN WHICH IT HAS ADAPTED ITS METHODS TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE,+ HE SAID.

/NOTING THAT