Persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison attain good examination results (with photos)
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     A total of 67 persons in custody in Shek Pik Prison (SPP) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (November 23) in recognition of their study efforts and academic achievements.

     The 67 persons in custody awarded certificates today had passed 177 papers with 118 distinctions and credits and achieved a total of 720 university credit points. Among them, seven persons in custody attained good academic results and were presented with the Outstanding Student Award by the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) and four persons in custody were awarded a Master Degree of Science in Information Technology with Internet Applications and Associate Degrees of Business Administration by OUHK.

     In 2016, a total of 248 persons in custody at SPP passed 393 papers in various distance learning courses and public examinations organised by OUHK, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the City and Guilds International Limited.

     Examinations passed covered a variety of subjects including Chinese language, English language, mathematics, economics, business finance, business statistics, business administration, software applications, Putonghua, accounting and book-keeping.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon, Mr Kyran Sze, said that the CSD endeavours to conduct suitable rehabilitation programmes to help persons in custody turn over a new leaf as well as reintegrate into society. Over the years, the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon has long been supporting the rehabilitation work of the CSD and co-operating in fostering offender rehabilitation. He added that the two parties had jointly organised different rehabilitative activities. For example, the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon had sponsored the CSD and the District Fight Crime Committees to organise different kinds of activities involving the promotion of rehabilitation, and supported  the CSD for producing episodes of a TV programme called "The Road Back" and a TV variety show entitled "Support Offender Rehabilitation for a Safer and More Inclusive Society" in order to solicit public acceptance for the reintegration of rehabilitated offenders into the community, thereby building a safe, harmonious and caring society in a collaborative way.

     During the ceremony, persons in custody at SPP sang in a cappella style, while a band formed by persons in custody also sang to convey gratitude to all those helping them in rehabilitation.

     Also attending the ceremony were the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Yau Chi-chiu; representatives of non-governmental and community organisations; community leaders; and family members of certificate recipients.

     Situated on Lantau Island, SPP is a maximum security institution with a capacity of 426 penal places for male adult persons in custody.

Ends/Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:20

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