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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Paul Tang, visited the Tong Fuk Correctional Institution (TFCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) in Lantau this afternoon (April 2) to gain a better understanding of the vocational training which the department provides for persons in custody (PICs) and the development of its rehabilitation services, as well as taking the opportunity to meet staff.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Raymond Wong, Mr Tang arrived at the correctional institution and was received by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Sin Yat-kin. The party visited the various facilities and inspected the operation of different workshops in the institution. Mr Tang also met frontline staff to better understand their daily work.
At their first stop, the Timber Formwork Skill Workshop, the party was briefed by staff on the timber formwork courses, with trainees demonstrating their production skills. Mr Tang was pleased to learn that these practical courses not only supply much-needed talent for the industry, but also provide promising employment opportunities for the trainees, with a view to facilitating the smooth reintegration of the PICs into society after their release.
Later, Mr Tang toured the Food and Beverage Service Training Block to learn more about the food and beverage training provided for the trainees. The two-storey training block consists of classrooms for theoretical study on the upper floor and a training kitchen as well as a restaurant on the ground floor for practical training. This training block provides suitable venues for the institution to organise different types of food and beverage training courses for the PICs and to help them obtain recognised qualifications, so as to increase their employability on their return to the community.
Mr Tang also visited the dormitories, the centre hospital, kitchen and other training facilities/workshops for PICs inside TFCI. Before concluding his visit, Mr Tang met with the directorate staff of the department, and was briefed on the work and daily operation of its different divisions. Mr Tang then chatted with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to exchange views on relevant issues. He said he highly appreciated colleagues' efforts and encouraged them to continue providing efficient services on penal management and rehabilitation work with professionalism.
Ends/Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:55
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