Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1966-1967 — Page 29

to advise on matters referred to them by the Principal Probation Officer under rule 14 of the Probation of Offenders Rules Cap. 298.

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

37. The juvenile correctional institutions consist of a reformatory school (run on the lines of an approved school in Britain) at Castle Peak in the New Territories; a combined institution (remand home and probation home) at Yau Yat Chuen, Kowloon; the similarly multi- purpose Ma Tau Wai Girls' Home; and a hostel for the boys and young men aged between 16-21 years. Although there are many fewer girls than boys whom the courts judge to be in need of residential training such girls often need much individual attention; the Ma Tau Wai Girls' Home provides an addition to the previous alternatives of a probation order, which may be ineffective if there are no conditions of residence and training attached, or on the other hand the rigours of imprison- ment. The probation hostel for young male offenders at Kwun Tong was opened in September 1966. This is an entirely 'open' institution with no element of detention and is intended as an ancillary aid to successful probation treatment. The principal objects are to provide a simple routine of living in a secure and well-regulated atmosphere, some supervised, but not over-organized, leisure time occupation; and generally advice and guidance in growing up, particularly in regard to the proper use of money and budgetting. Boys are admitted when their home environment is prejudicial to their improvement; where their relationships with their parents or relatives are bad; when they have no home; when they have personal problems of immaturity, anti-social behaviour or inability to get on with others; and generally when the more normal contact and supervision provided by a probation officer are thought to be insufficient. These young men are expected normally to be in work and earning. Working drawings are being prepared for a second reformatory school and tenders should be called for shortly: this new school is needed to meet the growing demand for reformatory treatment and will be at Kau Wah Keng (or O Pui Shan) above the Lai Chi Kok Hospital on the north-west edge of Kowloon.

38. The Castle Peak Boys' Home has places for a maximum of a hundred and fifty boys and this year accommodated an overall average of one hundred and twenty eight. The accommodation available for trade training is inadequate in relation to its importance, but it is hoped that a new trade training block, planning for which is far advanced, will

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