Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1962-1963 — Page 21

probation officers continue to carry an abnormally heavy load of work. A witness to the increased pressure on individual officers is the fact that in 1958-59 some 11 officers supervised about 270 cases, whilst at the end of this year some 14 officers were responsible for 850 cases. It is surprising perhaps, though gratifying, that the 'success' rate i.e. the numbers of those who completed their periods of probation without committing further offences, rose to a little over 77% compared with 66% last year. The remaining 23% were mostly committed, after further offences, to a Training Centre or Prison (Further details are at Appendix 14).

53. The Probation Committees for Hong Kong Island and for Kowloon and the New Territories met twice during the year to consider the reports on cases made by the probation officers and to advise on matters referred to them by the Principal Probation Officer under Section 14 of the Probation of Offenders Rules.

54. The juvenile correctional institutions have consisted of a Remand Home in Kowloon and a Reformatory School, run on the lines of an Approved School in the United Kingdom, at Castle Peak in the New Territories. But by the end of the year a new combined Remand and Approved institution to accommodate 160 boys was ready for occupation at Yau Yat Chuen. It has thus become possible to adapt the building previously occupied by the Remand Home for use as a Girls Remand and Probation Home and Hostel. While there may be fewer girls whom the Courts may judge to require residential training, this adaptation does provide a positive alternative to the use of proba- tion which, with no condition of residence, may be ineffective, or to the comparative rigours of imprisonment. During the year planning also proceeded for a probation hostel for young offenders between the ages of 16 and 21 years and for a second Reformatory School, much needed in view of the continuing and increasing demands on the only existing institution.

55. Because of these demands the capacity of Castle Peak Boys' Home was increased from just under 100, first of all to 120 and finally to 150 places. Early in the year the married staff quarters were com- pleted; this helped to provide room for the expansion, but resulted in some sacrifice of the trade training accommodation which is now cramped and inadequate. A new trade class in electrical and wireless repairs was started and a wolf cub pack for the smaller boys was inaugurated. A senior scout in the Home was the first in the Colony to

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