XN000022-1986-01-17 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1986

GOVERNMENT HOPEFUL OF MORE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS HOPEFUL OF A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY.

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HE EXPLAINED THAT WHILE THE RATE OF IEW ARRIV .S HAD DROPPED CONSIDERABLY, SO HAD THE RATE AT WHICH THE REFUGEE, HAD BEEN RESETTLED ABROAD.

+BUT, FOLLOWING THE UNITED KINGDOM'S AGREEMENT TO INCREASE THE INTAKE OF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT IS ENGAGED IN A MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO SECURE ASSISTANCE FROM COUNTRIES TO ACCEPT REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID.

SPEAKING THIS AFTERNOON AT THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SIR EDWARD SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD CONTINUED TO SHOULDER MANFULLY ITS DEMANDING TASK OF MANAGING CLOSED CENTRES FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES+.

SIR EDWARD SAID HE HAD OFTEN SAID THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE SYSTEM OF LAW AND ORDER.

+SOUND CORRECTIONAL AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES ARE NECESSARY FOR THOSE HELD IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IF THEY ARE TO LEAD A PRODUCTIVE, LAW ABIDING LIFE ON THEIR RELEASE,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.

THIS WAS WHY EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE GENERAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION OF OFFENDERS, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNGER OFFENDERS. IN 1985, 152 INMATES HAD TAKEN PART IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. ALL THE RESULTS WERE NOT YET KNOWN, BUT SO FAR AN AVERAGE PASS RATE OF 90 PER CENT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED, SIR EDWARD SAID.

+MANY CANDIDATES HAVE ACHIEVED DISTINCTIONS AND CREDITS. OVERALL THE RECORD IS ONE WHICH ANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WOULD BE PROUD OF,+ HE SAID.

THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES HAD ALSO CONTINUED TO EXPAND AND DIVERSIFY, WITH COMPLETION LAST YEAR OF A MULTI- STOREY WORKSHOP COMPLEX AT PIK UK PRISON, TOTAL COMMERCIAL VALUE OF GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCED LAST YEAR CAME TO $125 MILLION.

SIR EDWARD ALSO PRESENTED COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDALS TO 30 OFFICERS +IN RECOGNITION OF THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE CONCERNED+.

SPEAKING OF