XN000022-1993-11-15 — Page 8

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1993

EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICE HELPS OFFENDERS

AN

EFFECTIVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICE PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFENDERS ΤΟ DEVELOP A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS SOCIETY AND RESPECT FOR THE LAW, CULMINATING IN SUCCESSFUL RE-INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

го ACHIEVE THIS, THE CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS MUST WORK CLOSELY WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES, THE COURTS AND THE SOCIAL AND WELFARE SERVICE AGENCIES, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 13TH ASIAN AND PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS (APCCA), SIR DAVID SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO BE PROGRESSIVE, RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND TO WORK UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY,

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'ADMINISTRATORS MUST ALSO BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR SERVICE AND HOW BEST THAT SERVICE CAN BE DELIVERED.

"BUT SINCE CORRECTIONAL ACTIVITIES HAVE EXTENDED AND MOVED FAR BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE PENAL SETTING, AND AS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAYS AN INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CORRECTION OF OFFENDERS, THERE IS MUCH THE COMMUNITY ITSELF CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THE SERVICE,' HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS AWARE OF WHAT WAS PROVIDED.

"IN THIS WAY WE CAN SECURE GREATER PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SERVICE AND WIN SUPPORT FOR THE RE-INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE BACK INTO SOCIETY," HE SAID.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS IN THE REGION TO GET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS CURRENT ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THROUGH SINCERE AND FRANK EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AND SHARING OF EXPERIENCES AND ΤΟ CONTRIBUTE TO THE FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES AND MEANS OF THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE REGION.

THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE IS THE BIGGEST SINCE IT WAS FIRST HELD IN FEBRUARY 1980 FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CRIMINOLOGY AND THE THEN PRISONS DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG,

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME HONG KONG HAS HOSTED THE CONFERENCE IN THE PAST 13 YEARS.

THE FIRST ONE WAS ATTENDED BY 27 SENIOR CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS FROM 13 COUNTRIES IN THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION.

THIS YEAR SOME 59 DELEGATES REPRESENTING 19 COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES AND TWO ORGANISATIONS BAVE ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.

THE CONFERENCE HAD MET IN THAILAND, JAPAN, MALAYSIA, AUSTRALIA, INDIA AND CHINA. LAST YEAR, IT WAS HELD IN ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

/"THE GROWTH