*****************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, in the Legislative Council today (February 25):
Question:
According to information provided by the Administration, about 8 000 local adult persons in custody were released on average in each of the past five years, and around $900 million was allocated in 2014-2015 for facilitating persons in custody to re-integrate into society upon release. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(1) how many persons in custody who were released in each of the past five years had received vocational training or other forms of rehabilitative services whilst in custody; whether they will make more efforts to provide such services to those persons in custody who have not received such services;
(2) whether they know how many persons in custody who were released in each of the past five years had problems in finding accommodation upon release, and how many of such persons received accommodation assistance from the Administration; and
(3) whether they will make more efforts and allocate more funds to help persons in custody to receive industries training, vocational training and education whilst in custody, as well as employment and housing support upon release, so that they can re-integrate into society more easily?
Reply:
President,
The Correctional Services Department (CSD) is committed to providing a safe and humane environment for persons in custody and offering suitable rehabilitative services to facilitate their re-integration into society after serving their sentences. To cater for their different needs, CSD has been offering timely and suitable rehabilitation supports, such as welfare and counselling services, psychological counselling, education, vocational training, pre-release preparation as well as conducting post-release supervision as required by the relevant legislation. CSD also works closely with over 80 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and voluntary agencies to provide persons in custody with diversified programmes in the correctional institutions, including religious services, interest groups, recreational and cultural activities, regular visits and pre-release counselling.
The Administration's reply to the different parts of the question is as follows:
(1) and (3) All convicted adult persons in custody, excluding those exempted on medical ground, have to work under CSD's arrangement according to the current law. Through daily participation in industrial production, persons in custody can develop good working habits and enhance their competency at work, including acquiring knowledge and skills that are generally applicable such as production arrangements, quality control, logistics, etc. In 2014, the average daily workforce of persons in custody is about 4 400. CSD is also actively introducing more vocational training elements in the Correctional Services Industries to provide relevant skills training, including courses related to intermediate trade testing on concrete work, carpentry and metalwork conducted by the Construction Industry Council. CSD also assists those working in printing workshops to obtain accreditation for their knowledge, skills and experience through the "Recognition of Prior Learning" mechanism under the Qualifications Framework.
In addition to job arrangements, CSD also provides market-oriented vocational training for voluntary application by persons in custody. In the financial year of 2013-14, CSD provided more than 1 400 vocational training places for the voluntary enrolment of eligible adult persons in custody who are serving sentences of no less than six months and with remaining sentences from three to 24 months. In each of the past five years (i.e. from 2010 to 2014), around 900 to 1 100 rehabilitated adult persons who were discharged had voluntarily joined the vocational training provided by CSD when serving their sentences.
The number of vocational training places offered by CSD is demand-driven and subject to the Department's review from time to time having regard to the enrolment response of persons in custody. Separately, CSD discusses with training institutions on a regular basis with a view to introducing a wider range of market-oriented vocational training courses for persons in custody, including the Certificate Course in Care Worker Training and Professional Taxi Driver (Taxi Written Test) Training Course which was added in 2014. CSD will keep reviewing the arrangements on industrial production work and, in the light of product technology development and employment market situation, include new types of trades suitable for persons in custody.
On education services, CSD actively encourages adult persons in custody to undertake distance learning or self-learning programmes after work for self-enhancement. In this connection, CSD strives to facilitate them to make full use of the resources and professional services provided by recognised educational institutions to acquire accredited academic qualifications. CSD has set up, with donations from organisations or members of the public, a number of education funds to support and help those who intend to pursue studies and are in need of financial assistance for paying tuition fees, purchasing books, study aids or materials as well as taking examinations organised by external bodies. The relevant funds include the Prisoners' Education Trust Fund, the Prisoners' Education Subsidy Fund, the Care of Rehabilitated Offenders Association Foundation, the New Life Foundation, and the Angel Education Fund. In 2014, around $1.35 million was approved in total under the above education funds to help more than 1 000 persons in custody pursue further studies.
On Pre-release Employment Services, CSD arranges local persons in custody to attend the Pre-release Reintegration Orientation Course before their release. The course covers general information on social welfare services, employment support services for rehabilitated persons provided by government departments and NGOs, introduction on community facilities, job interview skills, labour legislation etc. CSD hopes that persons in custody can acquire information about post-release life through the course and prepare themselves for re-integration into society.
As early employment of persons in custody upon release can facilitate their re-integration into society, CSD maintains close contact and co-operation with the business sector and relevant trade associations to encourage employers to register as "Caring Employers" and hire rehabilitated persons. From the introduction of the Pre-release Employment Services in 2012 to end-2014, over 350 employers have registered as Caring Employers.
Moreover, CSD conducts assessment on re-offending risks and rehabilitative needs for all local persons admitted to training centres, detention centres, rehabilitation centres and drug addiction treatment centres as well as all local persons in custody serving sentences of 12 months or above. Matching rehabilitative programmes will then be provided to such persons in custody, who will be allocated to different domains of counselling or treatment groups, with a view to helping them enhance education level and vocational skills, quit drug abuse habits, rebuild family relationship, improve social skills, rectify criminal thinking, manage emotions and learn more about community supports available.
CSD will continue to actively review and enhance various types of rehabilitation services and programmes in the light of social changes and needs, and make proactive efforts in promoting rehabilitation work in the community.
(2) CSD's Rehabilitation Officers will actively approach all local persons in custody before their release so as to learn about their potential difficulties and needs upon discharge for rendering appropriate assistance. In each of the past five years (i.e. 2010 to 2014), there were around 1 600 to 1 800 local persons in custody expressing difficulties in finding accommodation after their release. As such, CSD assisted those persons in custody who had long-term housing needs to make applications to the Housing Department for public housing and referred those with a pressing need for housing to NGOs, including the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong (SRACP) subsidised by the Social Welfare Department, for follow-up action. In each of the past five financial years (i.e. from 2009-2010 to 2013-2014), SRACP provided an average of 805 months of rent allowance(note) to newly-discharged rehabilitated persons, and offered hostel places to an average of 369 rehabilitated persons.
CSD will keep in close liaison with the relevant departments and NGOs, and make timely referrals of persons in custody with housing problems to them for provision of appropriate support and assistance.
Note: A rehabilitated person may be granted a "Short-term Rent Allowance" for a maximum period of two months. In case of further financial difficulties, they can apply for rent allowance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme.
Ends/Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:11
NNNN
