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Following is the speech (translation) made by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the Correctional Services Department's annual inspection today (January 21):
Mr Pang, Members of the Correctional Services Department, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to join you all again at the Correctional Services Department Annual Inspection as the Inspecting Officer. The smart turnout and impeccable performance of those on parade is a good reflection of the distinction of the Department as a quality disciplined service in Hong Kong.
The renaming of the Prisons Department as the Correctional Services Department in 1982 signified a basic change in philosophy in penology in Hong Kong. Over the last 20 years, guided by its motto of "We Care", the Department has continually strived to enhance the quality of its services for the benefit of the prisoners and rehabilitated offenders, resulting in the achievement of internationally acclaimed standards and culminating in the presentation of the inaugural "President's Award" by the International Corrections and Prisons Association to the Department in October last year. We should indeed take pride in our correctional services.
I am aware that the Department has put much emphasis on human resource development in recent years. Initiatives ranging from the "corporate culture change programme" to the promotion of learning through the Internet will go a long way in raising the quality of staff and service.
As members of the Correctional Services Department, you have the important and meaningful mission of managing over 12,000 prisoners and some 3,000 discharged supervisees every day. In a bid to facilitate the re-integration of rehabilitated offenders into society, the Department has gone beyond the bounds of prisons and appealed for community support through education, publicity and public participation, including the establishment of the Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders in 1999.
A stable society is of critical importance to our efforts to tackle the present economic difficulties. The many challenges we are now facing, such as the bursting of the economic bubble, persistent deflation, government fiscal deficit and the changes brought about by economic restructuring, have made a great impact on our economy and the livelihood of the people. Nevertheless, I am confident that Hong Kong can overcome all this. My confidence comes from Hong Kong's inherent advantages, which include a clean civil service, a robust legal system, a well-developed infrastructure, and policies conducive to a free and open society. My confidence comes from the full support of our motherland.
My confidence also comes from the stability of our society. Without social stability, there would be no sound foundation for economic prosperity. In this regard, the Department has an important role to play. Since I last attended the Annual Inspection two years ago, I have noticed that the Department has made significant progress under the leadership of the former Commissioner, Mr C K Ng. I hope that every member of the Correctional Services will keep up the good work under the steer of the new Commissioner, Mr S Y Pang. I look to you all to continue to serve the community with a high degree of professionalism and to make the best use of every resource available.
I am confident that with your unwavering commitment and public service spirit, the Department will be able to rise to any challenges and contribute to the future of Hong Kong.
Thank you.
End/Tuesday, January 21, 2003
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