*****************************************************
Employers and representatives from more than 100 large organisations and small-and-medium enterprises today (November 21) attended an employment symposium for ex-offenders.
The symposium, entitled "Creating Resettlement Opportunities for ex-Offenders through Employment", was jointly organised by the Correctional Services Department (CSD) and the Centre for Criminology, the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
¡@¡@
The symposium was to call on the public and employers to give equal opportunities to rehabilitated offenders, thereby facilitating their re-integration into society as law-abiding citizens.
¡@¡@
CSD's Assistant Commissioner (Rehabilitation) Mr Yau Chi-chiu said employment had been a crucial factor for successful re-integration of offenders, and he called on the wider community, especially employers, to give offenders the much-needed support.
¡@¡@
He said, "It is incumbent upon the Government to help offenders get back on the right track so they can re-integrate into society, but the Government alone cannot achieve this arduous task."
¡@¡@
"Successful re-integration of rehabilitated offenders into society as a law-abiding citizens hinges on acceptance and support of the community and determination of the offenders themselves."
¡@¡@
"In recent years, CSD has endeavoured to promote community acceptance of and support for rehabilitated offenders through education, publicity and community involvement. Organising the employment symposium was one of the activities."
¡@¡@
On measures to strengthen employability of prisoners after release, Mr Yau said while participation of vocational training for adult prisoners was on a voluntary basis, the department had strengthened pre-release vocational training for local adult offenders, facilitated them to acquire market-oriented vocational skills and helped them obtain recognised qualifications.
¡@¡@
CSD has also teamed up with the Society for the Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong (SRACP) since October, 2006, for the SRACP to provide follow-up employment services for adult offenders completing pre-release vocational training.
¡@¡@
Among 235 rehabilitated offenders released from penal institutions after completing pre-release vocational training between October, 2006, and October, 2007, 173 voluntarily received follow-up employment service offered by the SRACP. Their employment rate - being successfully employed within three months after release - was 83%.
¡@¡@
Head of Centre for Criminology, Professor John Bacon-Shone, said many people in Hong Kong found it hard to accept that ex-offenders could turn over a new leaf and became valuable members of society.
"This change can bring huge benefits to society as far as reducing crime is concerned, so I hope that today's presentation can help persuade all of you that as employers you play an important role in the reintegration of rehabilitated offenders, who need the opportunity to overcome their past problems and become stable members of society," Prof Bacon-Shone said
"Offenders' rehabilitation requires collaborative efforts of the government, NGOs and most importantly, the public."
In the symposium, intellectuals, government officials and representatives of Non-government Organisations (NGO) introduced employment support available for rehabilitated offenders, while employers talked about their experience of hiring ex-offenders, and a rehabilitated offender shared his path to rehabilitation.
¡@¡@
Also attending the symposium were Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Kwok Leung-ming, HKU's Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Ian Holliday and members of the Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders.
¡@¡@
With CSD's Rehabilitation Division approaching its 10th anniversary in January, 2008, a series of rehabilitation-related publicity events has been rolled out to seek public acceptance of and support for offenders' rehabilitation. The employment symposium is part of the campaign. Other upcoming activities include NGO Service Day, TV Variety Show, Workshop on Assessment and Treatment of Violent Offenders, rehabilitation-related publicity activities at district level as well as lyrics and songs competition for offenders.
Ends/Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:18
NNNN
