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inmates; 59 per cent for male training centre inmates; 91 per cent for female training centre inmates; 79 per cent for young male prisoners; 71 per cent for young female prisoners; 67 per cent for male drug addiction treatment centre inmates; 77 per cent for female drug addiction treatment centre inmates; 100 per cent for the 'Release Under Supervision Scheme'; 100 per cent for the 'Pre-release Employment Scheme'; and 99 per cent for the 'Post-release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme'. Altogether, there were 3 347 males and 411 females under active after-care supervision at the end of 1997.

Correctional Services Industries

All inmates, unless certified physically unfit by Medical Officers, are required by law to work six days a week. They are assigned work according to their fitness and security ratings, personal background, balance of sentence, and so on. They receive earnings according to the work done and can use their earnings account to buy approved personal items twice a month. Employment keeps inmates purposefully and gainfully occupied, thus reducing the risk of unrest due to boredom and lack of constructive activities. It also helps inmates develop the habit of doing meaningful work.

In 1997, about 7 400 inmates were engaged in industrial work. Penal workshops provide a wide range of goods and services for government departments and public organisations and, to a smaller extent, for the private sector. Examples are government furniture, staff uniforms and accoutrements, litter containers, mailboxes and brief cases. Under the public construction projects, Correctional Services Industries supply traffic signs, paving slabs and kerbs for highways, new town development and the new airport-related works. Lighter trades include printing, envelope-making, bookbinding and laundry services to public hospitals.

Production and services provided by Correctional Services Industries in 1997 were equivalent to $433 million in commercial value.

Detention Centres for Vietnamese Migrants

The CSD manages two centres, Green Island Reception Centre and High Island Detention Centre, for the detention of VMs and VIIS. The former is used to accommodate VIIs temporarily for quarantine purposes and the latter is the only major detention centre for VMs and VIIs in Hong Kong. Services for the VMs under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in High Island were further reduced during the year, in line with the policy set by the UNHCR. Services provided by voluntary agencies in the High Island Detention Centre included education, baby clinics and outings for minors. Other essential services, such as the issuance of clothing and relief items, are provided by the CSD.

Staff Training

The department provides staff with recruit, development and specialist training at the Staff Training Institute, and in-service training at individual penal institutions. Training curriculums place emphasis on both theory and practice, and include laws of the HKSAR, departmental rules and regulations, counselling, social work techniques, management, psychology, criminology, penology, first aid, foot drill, anti-riot drill,