XN000022-1990-03-30 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1990

THE CSD IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CUSTODY AND CARE OFFENDERS AND 34,000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND BOAT PEOPLE.

OF 11,500

INHERENT IN THIS RESPONSIBILITY, MR CHAN SAID, THE DEPARTMENT HAD TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE UNDER ITS CUSTODY, WHICH INCLUDED LOOKING AFTER THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY AS WELL AS FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE COMMISSIONER SAID: "ME HAVE ALWAYS COMMITTED OURSELVES ΤΟ THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF THOSE IN CUSTODY AND THIS SHALL CONTINUE TO BE OUR POLICY.

"WE ARE EQUALLY COMMITTED ΤΟ PROVIDING A SAFE AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF THE PREDATORY AND VICIOUS AMONGST THEMSELVES.

"FOR TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS IN PARTICULAR, A DISCIPLINED AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT IN OUR PAST SUCCESSES."

TURNING TO PROGRESS IN THE PROPER CORRECTIONAL FIELD, MR CHAN SAID SUCCESS RATES FOR ALL PROGRAMMES HAD IMPROVED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THE SUCCESS RATES OF AFTERCARE CASES WHICH EXPIRED IN A THREE-YEAR PERIOD HAD GONE UP FROM 61.9 PER CENT TO 67.3 PER CENT FOR DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES, FROM 58.3 PER CENT TO 61.7 PER CENT FOR TRAINING CENTRES, FROM 80.7 PER CENT TO 84.1 PER CENT FOR YOUNG PRISONERS, FROM 92.1 PER CENT TO 93.3 PER CENT FOR THOSE UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE, AND FROM 91.8 PER CENT TO 96 PER CENT FOR THOSE 21 ΤΟ 24 YEARS OF AGE IN THE SHA TSUI DETENTION CENTRE.

LOOKING AHEAD, THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES URGED ALL STAFF TO RISE TO EVERY CHALLENGE TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY,

"THE TIME AHEAD WILL SEE MANY MORE CHALLENGES FOR US, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH ARE SPURIOUS, MALICIOUS AND OFTEN CALCULATED NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS AGAINST EITHER THE SERVICE OR MEMBERS OF THE STAFF ARISING FROM OUR PART IN CARING FOR THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, HE SAID.

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"THE EXCEPTIONAL AND OFTEN UNFORESEEN DEMANDS OF OUR JOB ARE WHAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO MEET," HE ADDED.

AT TODAY'S CEREMONY, THE COMMISSIONER PRESENTED CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 40 VETERAN STAFF WITH A TOTAL OF 1,120 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE.

OFFICERS AND

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AT

THE PARADE ALSO MARKED THE PASSING-OUT OF 16 ASSISTANT OFFICERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED SIX MONTHS' BASIC TRAINING THE DEPARTMENT'S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE.

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