53. The Hong Kong Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society and its affiliated agencies in this field, the Salvation Army and Caritas, have as their objects the long-term rehabilitation of prisoners. All prisoners are interviewed at the earliest possible moment in their imprisonment, so that, if they wish to avail themselves of what can be offered, as much time as possible is available for making an effective plan for the prisoner and his family. The Society operates a hostel for ex- prisoners who have been readdicted to drugs after leaving prison; they may stay there for two months under the supervision of a qualified doctor. The Wan Chai Social Therapy Centre, which was opened in the autumn of 1966, is similar to that maintained by the Society at Tung Tau; each seeks to provide for such fundamental needs as shelter, work and food, and aims to help in healing the breach between the prisoner and his family if this exists, or leading him back into the discipline of regular working habits or helping him through recreational pursuits to join freely in normal social intercourse. Besides the Social Welfare Department, the Prisons Department, the Police Force and the Secretariat for Home Affairs also each provide an observer or adviser for this Society's Committee; the Prisons Department admin- isters the subvention for the Society, but this has not in any way reduced this Department's involvement with the Society.
54. Also of assistance to the Probation Service is the Rennies Mill Student Aid Project and the Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre. Some juveniles, including probationers, have been referred to the Project for assistance in the form of accommodation and education.
CHAPTER IV
FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION
55. The Family Services Division consists of a decentralized net- work of casework offices and supporting specialist services which are centrally administered. Together they are capable of dealing with a wide variety of social problems affecting both individuals and families, and they have been so organized that a person or a family with a multitude of social problems need approach only one casework office to obtain the assistance and advice they require.
56. The casework service is provided through four District Offices some of which also supervise the work of subsidiary Family Services
19
Page 25Page 26
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.