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Following is a question by the Hon Ng Leung-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday) :

Question :

Regarding the provision of services to other government departments by the Correctional Services Industries ("CSI"), will the Government inform this Council :

(a) of the printing services currently provided by the CSI;

(b) of the current progress on the CSI's plan to set up production lines for dry-pressed paving blocks; and

(c) whether the CSI has planned to introduce new services, such as Chinese word processing service; if so, of the details?

Reply :

President,

(a) Printing services currently provided by the Correctional Services Industries (CSI) include: printing of name cards, circulars, invitation cards, programmes, booklets, posters; making of envelopes, pockets and folders; and book binding etc.

(b) A dry-pressed paving block making machine was installed in the Tai Lam Correctional Institution in October 1998. Commissioning tests of the machine and training of staff and inmates have been completed. Trial runs have also been conducted to produce sample blocks which were found to be meeting Government standards by the Public Works Central Laboratory in end 1998. The CSI is now working with the Highways Department on details of the production requirements such as colour and quantity. The production line will commence mass production by late January 1999. It will provide employment opportunities for 30 inmates with a daily output of about 12,000 blocks.

(c) The CSI always looks for scope for providing new products or services for other Government departments. New services now under planning include a new production line at the Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution which will be operational around July this year to provide laundry services for Government clinics. New technology will also be introduced in the silkscreening workshop in the institution for printing of T-shirts and laser engraving for souvenir plaques. A new dedicated production line is also being planned for the Tai Lam Correctional Institution for making stainless steel items such as barriers and trolleys. Other than Chinese printing service, there is little demand for other Chinese word processing service within the Government. As a result, the CSI is not providing such service to other departments.

End/Wednesday, January 13, 1999

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