XN000022-1986-07-19 — Page 6

J

SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1986

+WHILST WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN NARROWING DOWN THE PROBLEM AREAS, THERE REMAINS SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS BOTH IN THE AREA OF A FEW OF THE CATAGORIES AFFECTED BY RE-CATAGORISATION, AND IN RELATION TO PRODUCTS AFFECTED BY CHANGES OF DEFINITIONS, WE SHALL BE LOOKING INTO THESE PROBLEMS IN MORE DETAIL BACK IN HONG KONG. WE SHALL ALSO BE ASSESSING IN CONSULTATION WITH THE TEXTILE ADVISORY BOARD THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS IN OTHER MARKETS.+

THE TEXTILE ADVISORY BOARD, CHAIRED BY MR E.P. HO, ADVISED THE HONG KONG TEAM THROUGHOUT THE SECOND ROUND. MR HO COMMENTED THAT THE LACK OF PROGRESS WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING BUT NOT ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED.

+ THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE HARMONISED SYSTEM ARE COMPLICATED AND IMPORTANT, AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR INDUSTRIAL ADVISERS ON THE TEXTILE ADVISORY BOARD IN THIS SENSITIVE AREA WAS PARTICULARLY USEFUL. THE PRESENCE OF THE BOARD IN BRUSSELS ALSO ENABLED THE HONG KONG LINE TO BE REFINED DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS IN RESPONSE TO DEVELOPMENTS AS THEY OCCURRED.+

0

AG PRAISES SUCCESSFUL WORK BY DEPARTMENT

******

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, TODAY (SATURDAY) PRAISED THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF INCARCERATION AND NOT MAKING PRISON LIFE HUMILIATING.

SPEAKING AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY, MR THOMAS SAID AN OFFENDER WAS PUNISHED FOR THE CRIME HE HAD COMMITTED BY BEING SENT TO PRISON, AND +HE IS NOT SENT TO PRISON FOR FURTHER PUNISHMENT+.

+SO FAR AS IS PRACTICABLE, A PRISONER IS ENTITLED TO ENJOY HIS SELF-RESPECT, HIS PERSONAL DIGNITY, AND HIS HUMAN RIGHTS NO LESS THAN THOSE WHO WALK FREELY.

MR THOMAS SAID AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK WAS +TO TRAIN PRISONERS TO LIVE POSITIVELY AND WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY SO THAT THEY WILL BE, ON RELEASE, USEFUL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

+AS THE NAME OF YOUR DEPARTMENT SHOWS, THE EMPHASIS IS ON 'CORRECTING OR REHABILITATING CONVICTED PRISONERS RATHER THAN MERELY PUNISHING THEM,+ HE SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL, HE ADDED, IN MAKING LIFE IN PRISON + BEARABLE+ AND NOT A DEGRADING OR HUMILIATING EXPERIENCE+.

+ IT IS THIS SIDE OF YOUR WORK, AS MUCH AS YOUR EXPERTISE IN MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE IN THE PRISONS, THAT MAKES THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG RESPECTED AND ADMIRED BY PENAL ADMINISTRATORS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.+

MR THOMAS THEN INSPECTED THE PARADE OF FOUR OFFICERS AND 84 ASSISTANT OFFICERS. THE TWO BEST RECRUITS, MISS CHAN YUK-LIN AND MR MA SIU-CHUNG, ALSO RECEIVED SILVER WHISTLES DURING THE CEREMONY.

+

/6