ENG-2000 — Page 404

PUBLIC ORDER

344

institutions. Training curricula place equal emphasis on 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, self-defence, tactical training, adventure training, field training, Putonghua, Chinese writing skills, information system training and personal computer training. Induction training is also provided for non-custodial staff.

To implement the corporate cultural change programme, the department arranged during the year a series of promotional activities and workshops. To implement the concepts of lifelong learning and self advancement, the department encourages staff to study for diploma and degree courses related to correctional work. Moreover, the department organises with the School of Continuing Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong a Programme in Penology to update the knowledge of junior staff.

Selected staff attend relevant courses run by other government departments and local universities or participate in overseas visits, training and conferences in order to broaden their experience and to keep them abreast of the latest trend and developments in correctional services world-wide.

Visiting Justices

Penal institutions are visited by Justices of the Peace fortnightly or monthly, depending on the type of institution. The Justices receive and investigate complaints, inspect diets and report on living and working conditions. They may also advise the Commissioner of Correctional Services on employment opportunities for released prisoners.

Complaints

The CSD has a Complaints Investigation Unit that is responsible for handling and investigating complaints in relation to the department's work. All investigation reports are subject to the scrutiny of the Correctional Services Department Complaints Committee, which is chaired by the Civil Secretary. The complaints handling service provided by this unit was accredited the ISO 9002 Certificate in August.

Inmates may lodge complaints with visiting senior officers or utilise other channels. for redressing their grievance by making complaints to visiting Justices of the Peace, The Ombudsman and Legislative Councillors.

Drug Abuse and Trafficking

The Government is committed to reducing both the supply of and the demand for illicit drugs through a wide range of action and programmes. It is also committed to reducing the prevalence and incidence of drug abuse by developing a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation programme for drug abusers and dissuading people, in particular the young, from taking or experimenting with drugs.

In view of the rising trend of psychotropic substance abuse, a multi-discipline task force was set up in early 2000 to recommend to the Governments ways to tackle the problem. The task force, comprising more than 30 experts in different fields, would recommend comprehensive strategies along the five-pronged anti-drug approach.