The Correctional Services Department (CSD) held a passing-out parade at its Staff Training Institute in Stanley today (December 7) with 16 Officers and 94 Assistant Officers II graduating. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, attended the parade.
 
     Addressing the passing-out parade, Mr Law said law and order is the cornerstone of the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. Thirty-five years ago, the then Prisons Department was renamed as the Correctional Services Department, signifying the unique role and mission of the CSD to place dual emphasis on safe custody and rehabilitation. He said that today the department is not only committed to providing safe custody, but also collaborating with various sectors of the community to provide persons in custody with appropriate rehabilitation programmes. Publicity and education in the community are actively conducted with the aim of nipping crime in the bud, he said.
 
     Mr Law said that recently, in the Civil Service Bureau's Facebook page, there was a post about a CSD video entitled "A letter to mother in heaven". The video tells the story of Ah Shing (false name), a former triad who had been convicted of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment at Stanley Prison. In his early days in custody, he was very depressed, but despite his wrongdoings his mother never gave up on him. He took the initiative to seek assistance and started to study, and with the help of a CSD clinical psychologist he has managed to deal with his emotions and improve interpersonal relationships. Mr Law said he believed that many more persons in custody like Ah Shing can benefit from the CSD's rehabilitation programmes and eventually contribute to society in the future.
 
     He said that thanks to the concerted efforts of the CSD and stakeholders, the recidivism rate in Hong Kong has dropped continuously from 39.9 per cent in 2000 to 25.9 per cent in 2014. The result is very encouraging.
 
     In light of the fast-changing society and ever-rising public expectations, Mr Law expressed the hope that passing-out members will make good use of the training and development opportunities provided by the CSD to better equip themselves to meet the challenges ahead. He said he expects that they will perform their duties with perseverance while upholding the highest standards of integrity.
 
     Three graduates spoke to the media after the parade. They included a non-ethnic Chinese Officer, Mr Johnny Singh. He thanked the department for giving him opportunities to further his studies so that he could be promoted, and said he will continue to work hard to contribute to society.
 
     An Assistant Officer II, Mr Yu Ho-pong, who is a former member of the Hong Kong Football Representative Team, said the visions of correctional work and soccer coaching have similarities, as both include placing people on the right path.
 
     Another Assistant Officer II, Ms Ng Yuen-lam, who has obtained a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology degree, said appropriate skills and observation are required to communicate with persons in custody. Ms Ng said more patience is needed to deal with elderly persons in custody, and she will apply her skills to encourage and assist them to return to the correct track.

Ends/Thursday, December 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:13

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