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The Correctional Services Department (CSD) strived to provide high quality custodial services in 2008 and will further improve the effectiveness of rehabilitative services by initiating an organisational change to the Correctional Services Industries (CSI) early this month, the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Kwok Leung-ming, said today (February 5).
Speaking at a press conference to review the work of the department, Mr Kwok said that to achieve its aims, the CSD identified in 2008 four critical success factors - quality custodial services; comprehensive rehabilitative services; offenders¡¦ response to the programmes and their determination to turn a new leaf; and community support for offender rehabilitation.
¡§We have endeavoured to improve in those areas under our control, and also to engage with inmates and with the public so as to achieve our goals," Mr Kwok said.
On prison development plans, Mr Kwok said the department had made great strides in 2008 in alleviating prison overcrowding and meeting the demand for decent and modern prison facilities, enabling the department to achieve its aim of providing high quality custodial services.
¡§Work has been underway on developing a number of institutions throughout Hong Kong, and 2008 saw several of these projects come to fruition. Most notably, Lai King Correctional Institution, formerly the Lai King Training Centre for young male offenders, began to receive young female offenders in May after renovation,¡¨ he said.
¡§This move is to swap the roles of Lai King Correctional Institution and Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution to improve the efficiency of our young offender institutions and enhance resource deployment in training centres for young offenders.¡¨
Furthermore, an extension to Block E of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre has been completed, providing an additional 144 penal places.
The Lo Wu Correctional Institution is undergoing redevelopment and will provide 1,400 penal places by early 2010. The department is also planning to redevelop two female institutions in Chi Ma Wan in the coming years to provide 800 penal places.
On the department's rehabilitation service, Mr Kwok said the CSI had undergone organisational and structural changes, and had changed its name to Industries & Vocational Training Section since February 2, 2009.
¡§The aim of these changes is to strengthen the role of this section and enrich its functions which can facilitate better integration and co-ordination between industrial operations and vocational training activities. This will be conducive to the long-term development and effectiveness of rehabilitative services,¡¨ he said.
¡§This new section is now detached from the Operations Division and put under the Rehabilitation Division. The Assistant Commissioner (Rehabilitation) will play a leading role in policy formulation and development planning for the section, while the General Manager will be responsible for the overall management of operations¡¨, he added.
In line with the implementation of a new phase in the department¡¦s Risks and Needs Assessment and Management Protocol for Offenders, Mr Kwok said further work had been done to lower the risk of repeat offences and to better meet the rehabilitative needs of offenders.
¡§Assessment has been extended to all local prisoners with a sentence of two years or above, and programmes for offenders both during incarceration and after their release have been enhanced.¡¨
In 2008, the CSD received several awards for its charitable activities and service to the community.
¡§We were awarded the ¡¥Caring Organisation Logo¡¦ for the third consecutive year by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, and we were particularly proud to be presented with the prestigious ¡¥Total Caring Award¡¦ in February 2008, in recognition of our commitment to caring for the well-being of staff and their families as well as the community as a whole,¡¨ he said.
The Commissioner said the department had maintained close contact and collaboration with other penal authorities in the region.
¡§The 'Beijing-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Prison Forum', hosted in Beijing in October 2008, was a great success,¡¨ Mr Kwok said.
¡§A series of discussions on ¡¥Psychological Intervention and Prisoner Reform¡¦ has helped us to identify strategies to deal with this issue both now and in the future.
¡§In a further effort to foster friendship and share work-related experiences between penal authorities, the 2008 Sports Meet of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Correctional Officers was hosted in Hong Kong this year. The Singapore Prison Service and the Correction Bureau of the Republic of Korea were also invited to participate as guests,¡¨ he continued.
Mr Kwok pointed out that a new Advanced Diploma in Applied Social Science (Corrections) Programme at HKU SPACE was launched in January 2008. The course, tailor-made for CSD staff, is the only course in ¡§Corrections¡¨ available at a tertiary level in Hong Kong.
¡§The provision of training opportunities has been a primary focus for the CSD, allowing staff members to broaden their horizons and enhance their prospects.
¡§As ever, the tireless efforts of our staff have reaped great rewards in 2008,¡¨ he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Kwok addressed the challenges that the department will face in 2009 and beyond, as CSD strives to provide a safe and inclusive society for all in Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, February 5, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:34
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