ENG-1996 — Page 388

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months, depending on their progress. In-centre treatment is followed by 12 months of statutory after-care supervision.

The drug addiction treatment programme aims to detoxify, restore physical health and, through the application of therapeutic and rehabilitative treatment, wean addicts from their dependence on drugs. Assistance is also given to addiction treatment centre inmates with post-release employment and accommodation. Temporary accommodation is available at halfway houses for those in need of such support immediately after release.

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Chi Ma Wan Detention Centre (Lower) was converted to a female drug addiction treatment centre in December 1996 to cope with the treatment needs of female drug addicts.

Young Offender Assessment Panel

The Young Offender Assessment Panel, comprising staff from the Correctional Services Department and the Social Welfare Department, was established in 1987 to provide magistrates with recommendations on the most appropriate programmes of rehabilitation for young offenders between the age of 14 and 25 years. The service provided by the panel is available to juvenile courts and certain magistracies.

Education and Vocational Training

Offenders under the age of 21 attend educational and vocational training classes conducted by qualified teachers and instructors. For educational classes, textbooks compiled by the department are used to provide inmates with suitable and practical learning material matching their maturity and development. Adult offenders attend voluntary evening classes taught by part-time teachers. Self-study packages and distance learning courses are also available for those who are interested.

All offenders are encouraged to take part in public examinations organised by the City and Guilds of London Institute, Pitman Examinations Institute, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Hong Kong Examinations Authority. Young inmates are permitted to sit for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination as school candidates, and formal classes up to certificate level are provided for them. Adult inmates can sit for the examination as private candidates. Some offenders, mostly adults, have also participated in degree courses offered by the Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong and other academic institutes.

Vocational training programmes are provided to help young inmates cultivate good work habits and discipline, acquire employable skills, and engage in productive work. A Prisoners' Education Trust Fund set up with charitable donations in 1995 provides financial assistance to prisoners in educational pursuits, in the form of grants to cover course or examination fees.

Medical Services

All institutions have their own hospitals or sick bays providing basic medical treatment, health and dental care. Inmates requiring specialist treatment are either referred to a visiting consultant or to specialist clinics in public hospitals. Although HIV infection and AIDS are not a significant problem among inmates, the department has established guidelines for its staff in handling such cases, as well as a programme of education and prevention.