*************************************************
A four-day Prison Forum held in Hong Kong had been hailed a success and had offered an opportunity for prison officials from Beijing, Guangdong Province, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong to exchange their views on vocational training and work for prisoners, Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Kwok Leung-ming, said at the forum's closing ceremony today (October 12).
The "Beijing/Guangdong/Hong Kong Prison Forum 2007" was hosted by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) from October 9 to 12.
Participants of the forum included two 10-member delegations led respectively by Director of Guangdong Provincial Prisons Administration Bureau, Mr Yu Baozhong, and Chief Director of Beijing Prison Administration Bureau, Mr Zheng Zhenyuan.
There were also two guest delegations from Singapore and Macau, headed respectively by Director of Singapore Prison Service, Mr Chua Chin-kiat, and Director of Macau Prison, Mr Lee kam-cheong.
The forum aimed at enhancing correctional services through professional exchanges and close co-operation for those in the profession. Agenda items were correctional industries, prison work, vocational training and related subjects.
Mr Kwok said this year's forum set a milestone as Beijing Prisons Administration Bureau became one of the organising parties and the annual conference was renamed as "Beijing/Guangdong/Hong Kong Prison Forum".
"The forum has offered a great opportunity for us to engage in in-depth discussions on penal management related issues and identify effective strategies for current and future challenges in our profession," he said.
"The penal systems in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Beijing, Singapore and Macau operate in distinctive ways. The forum has allowed us to broaden our horizons and optimise the quality of correctional service through professional exchanges."
Ending the Forum, Mr Kwok said, "In the past few days, we shared our views on how to strengthen marketing strategies and management of correctional industries, and how to provide occupational training for prisoners. With your active participation and unfailing wisdom, we have enriched the understanding on penal systems in different jurisdictions and the importance of these issues in rehabilitation and effective management of prisoners."
"I believe that we will all keep abreast of time to strengthen penal operation, and bring synergy in areas including the structure, marketing strategies and management of correctional industries, as well as occupational modification and training."
The idea of setting up the forum was mooted by CSD and Guangdong officials in 2003, when the two sides agreed to host the forum alternately every year. The first Prison Forum was held in Guangzhou in June, 2004.
Ends/Friday, October 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:39
NNNN
