​Young persons in custody (PICs) at Lai King Correctional Institution (LKCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (September 17) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.
      
     Over the past year, a total of 36 PICs at LKCI enrolled in distance learning courses offered by the Hong Kong Metropolitan University or sat for various academic and vocational examinations, including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the Aptis - British Council English Assessment Test, Caritas Institute of Community Education examinations and examinations organised by City and Guilds, the Vocational Training Council, the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Management Association. The subjects covered food and beverage services, Western pastry and dessert making, Cantonese cooking and kitchen operations, beauty care, coffee shop beverage preparation and food hygiene. During the year, the PICs attained 60 merits out of 126 certificates. In the ceremony today, 20 PICs were presented with 68 certificates, of which 35 were marked with merits.
      
     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yan Oi Tong, Mr Benton Ho, said that Yan Oi Tong is fully supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD and set up the Yan Oi Tong Rehabilitation Scholarship Charity Fund in 2024, with the aim of supporting the educational and vocational training needs of PICs and assisting those facing financial difficulties to pursue continuing education. He encouraged PICs to equip themselves well and adopt a proactive learning attitude, with a view to preparing for reintegration into society.
      
     During the ceremony, a music performance by a marching band composed of young PICs and a sand painting performance themed "the power of perseverance" by PICs were staged to demonstrate their learning outcomes of the past year to guests as well as their family members, and to convey their gratitude to their family members and correctional officers.
      
     In the sharing session, a young PIC shared her experiences during rehabilitation and expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement from her family and CSD staff, enabling her to optimise her custodial time to actively equip herself by pursuing a distance learning local university degree programme. Her mother also shared the joy of witnessing the positive changes in her daughter while undergoing training in LKCI.
      
     LKCI accommodates young female PICs aged from 14 to under 21. The Department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for PICs to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

Ends/Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:40

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