ENG-1997 — Page 378

PUBLIC ORDER

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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 CSD and those supplied by publishers for public examinations and higher level classes are used to provide inmates at different levels 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 International, Pitman Qualifications, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examination Board, and the Hong Kong Examinations Authority. Young inmates may 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 University 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, obtain recognised public qualifications, 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, and expenses on reference books.

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 problem among inmates, the CSD has established guidelines for its staff in handling such cases, as well as a programme of education and prevention.

Ante-natal and post-natal care is provided in institutions for female inmates, but babies are normally delivered in public hospitals. Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre treats prisoners with mental health problems, and offers psychiatric consultations and assessments for inmates referred by other institutions and the courts.

Psychological Services

Psychological services are provided to inmates to enhance their psychological well- being in the rehabilitation process. Special treatment programmes are provided to sex offenders, inmates with addictive problems, young offenders as well as long-term prisoners by clinical psychologists and trained officers. Professional consultation is offered to the courts, review boards and institutional management to facilitate decision making on the treatment and management of offenders.