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The "One company one job" campaign which offers employment opportunities to rehabilitated offenders has been extended to a third District - Sha Tin - with the support of business people in the district.
The campaign is jointly organised by the Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Limited, Hong Kong Shatin Industries and Commerce Association Limited and the Correctional Services Department (CSD). It aims to expand the campaign initiated by the business sector in Kowloon City in 2004 and followed by an extension to Wong Tai Sin in 2005.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Sha Tin District "One company one job" campaign, the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Pang Sung-yuen said the extension to Sha Tin helped offer more employment opportunities to rehabilitated offenders and support their integration into the community as law-abiding citizens.
"This reflects the fact that nowadays more and more kind-hearted business people and charitable district leaders in Hong Kong recognise CSD's concern about the need of support for rehabilitated offenders," Mr Pang said. "They are joining in rehabilitation work which gives hopes to rehabilitated offenders. They are helping them solve problems in job-finding, in settling down, restoring confidence and becoming law-abiding citizens."
"The way for a rehabilitated offender to re-integrate into society is beset with difficulties, and his most urgent problem is getting a job. In the beginning of re-integration into the community, some rehabilitated offenders fail to find a job because they find it hard to be accepted by employers. Some will become despondent or even resort back to crime. Some cannot work steadily, perhaps because they feel they are discriminated against."
"The 'One company one job' campaign seeks public support and acceptance and appeals to employers to offer jobs and equal opportunities to rehabilitated offenders through publicity and public involvement programmes. It helps rehabilitated offenders re-integrate into the society and support themselves by their own efforts, and at the end reduce the risk of recidivism."
He pointed out that the extension of the campaign to Sha Tin was a joint effort of the Hong Kong Shatin Industries and Commerce Association Limited as well as employers and shops in the district.
With the promotion by the Hong Kong Kowloon City Industry and Commerce Association and the Merchants Support for Rehabilitated offenders, Mr Pang expects an extension of the campaign to all 18 districts in Hong Kong.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were President of Hong Kong Shatin Industries and Commerce Association Limited, Mr Chan Kam-chiu and Chairman Ho Kwok-wah; Foundation President of Merchants Support for Rehabilitated Offenders Committee Limited, Mr Chan Wing-lim; Chairman of Committee on Community Support For Rehabilitated Offenders, Mr Billy Kong; and Deputy Director General of New Territories Sub-Office of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Lin Wu.
A rehabilitated offender and an employer of rehabilitated offenders also shared their experiences on the road to correctional rehabilitation.
Ends/Sunday, June 25, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:45
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