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The Correctional Services Department (CSD) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) had been cooperating and supporting each other in providing services to inmates under custody as well as rehabilitated offenders, Chairman, Executive Committee of The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention (SRACP), Hong Kong, Mr Justice Pang Kin-kee said today (December 30) at the kick-off ceremony of the ˇ§NGO Service Dayˇ¨.
The ˇ§NGO Service Dayˇ¨ is jointly organised by CSD and SRACP with the aim of arousing public awareness on community care for offenders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Justice Pang said: ˇ§In recently years, these services are becoming diversified. They include cultural, religious and recreational activities, individual and group counselling, market-oriented vocational training as well as pre-release and aftercare services.
ˇ§Besides SRACP, the number of NGOs providing voluntary services in correctional institutions has increased in the past three years from 26 to over 60, representing an increase of over 200%, and more than 2 000 volunteers joined the services last year. This shows that the community is gradually accepting those who have offended the law and actively helping them to rehabilitate. ˇ¨
Mr Justice Pang pointed out that volunteersˇ¦ dedication in providing support to inmates, rehabilitated offenders and their families, and cooperation among them had a high level and wide scope of effect on voluntary services.
He said: ˇ§Through this event, I hope the public will be moved by our volunteers, and as a result, join their voluntary teams and provide support to them.ˇ¨
In todayˇ¦s event, the public expressed their care and concern for offenders by writing down encouraging words on cards distributed The cards were delivered to offenders in various correctional institutions on the same day by more than 200 staff members and volunteers from some 40 NGOs.
In addition to delivering the cards, these NGO staff and volunteers today provided various kinds of rehabilitation services to offenders in correctional institutions including religious and counselling services as well as organisation of cultural ventures and recreational projects.
Apart from the NGOs, the CSD established in early 2004 a CSD Rehabilitation Volunteer Group. The group, currently comprising 256 members, has organised more than 490 rehabilitative activities in various correctional institutions.
ˇ§Todayˇ¦s ceremony witnesses the achievements of the cooperation between CSD and NGOs in promoting voluntary services. With such cooperation and the efforts of volunteers, I trust that we can build a caring and inclusive society, and help more inmates and rehabilitated offenders to make a new start in life,ˇ¨ Mr Justice Pang concluded.
The ˇ§NGO Service Dayˇ¨ is among a series of rehabilitation-related publicity events organised by CSD as its Rehabilitation Division is approaching its 10th anniversary in January, 2008. Mr Justice Pang and Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Kwok Leung-ming officiate the eventˇ¦s kick-off ceremony which included a marching band display and singing performances.
In the ceremony, event ambassador, cyclist Mr Hung Chung-yam and event sponsor, Professor Cheng Shing-lung, also appealed to the public for supporting offendersˇ¦ integration into the community as law-abiding citizens.
Ends/Sunday, December 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:30
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