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The 28 correctional facilities under the Correctional Services Department (CSD) are holding various types of thank-you activities this week (December 22 to 28) to let persons in custody express their gratitude towards personnel and volunteers of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have been providing services for them.
Tong Fuk Correctional Institution, Sha Tsui Correctional Institution, Tai Lam Correctional Institution and Tai Lam Centre for Women are among the institutions that held activities to pay tribute yesterday (December 22). Persons in custody engaged in various performances ranging from singing to foot drills and also shared individual experiences and presented hand-made souvenirs and complimentary notes of their own design to give thanks and best wishes to the NGOs and volunteers for their dedication. The visiting volunteers were also given words of gratitude handwritten by persons in custody on the winning design of a thank-you card competition that was specially organised by the CSD.
Participants included Hong Kong Christian Kun Sun Association staff member Mr Tsang Chiu-fook. He said that the CSD assists and helps NGO personnel and volunteers to provide persons in custody with various services regularly. Warmed by the gratitude of persons in custody, he expressed his appreciation for the thank-you week organised by the CSD and said he hoped that the community can have a more positive understanding of persons in custody and support them to turn over a new leaf.
A person in custody, Ah Ho (false name), thanked the volunteers for their selfless devotion, which let him feel the care and acceptance of society and give people in custody the strength to rehabilitate. As Christmas is around the corner, he said he hoped that the activities would convey heartfelt thanks to the teams of volunteers who have spared no effort in offering help.
The thank-you activities in various CSD institutions this week symbolise the diversity and comprehensiveness of departmental rehabilitative services, which cater for the different rehabilitative needs of persons in custody. The department expects that more than 100 NGO personnel and volunteers will take part in the thank-you week, in which persons in custody can feel the love of society and show their determination to change through action.
At present, more than 80 NGOs work closely with the CSD to play an important role in rehabilitation work. Their diverse services include religious activities, group counselling, participation in major festival events, interest classes and cultural activities.
The CSD thanks NGOs for their care and selfless dedication for persons in custody and for enhancing the determination of persons in custody to rehabilitate. The department has called for greater efforts to support rehabilitation work in order to make the society safer and more harmonious.
Ends/Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:13
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