A total of 107 persons in custody at Shek Pik Prison (SPP) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (November 29) in recognition of their study efforts and academic achievements.

     The 107 persons in custody awarded certificates today had passed 199 papers with 112 distinctions and credits and achieved a total of 580 university credit points. Among them, five persons in custody attained good academic results and were presented with the Outstanding Student Award of the Year by the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK). Two persons in custody were awarded a Bachelor Degree of Administration in Chinese Business and a Bachelor Degree of General Studies, while six persons in custody were awarded Associate Degrees of General Studies and Associate Degrees of Business Administration by the OUHK respectively.

     In 2017, a total of 235 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 British Council 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 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), Dr Lee Yuk-lun, 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. He noted that the TWGHs has long been supporting the rehabilitation work of the CSD and co-operating in fostering offender rehabilitation, and that the two parties have jointly organised various ehabilitative activities. Examples include a volunteer activity named "Trim and Growth", which involved giving senior citizens free haircuts and was co-organised by the TWGHs for young persons in custody; the Gambling Counselling Group formed in collaboration with TWGHs Even Centre, which has been organised at Stanley Prison, Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and Pik Uk Prison several times, with the objective of helping participants to raise their awareness of problem gambling; and students from the TWGHs secondary schools were encouraged to participate in the Rehabilitation Pioneer Project with a view to disseminating the messages of leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation for young people, thereby helping to build a safe, harmonious and caring society in a collaborative way.

     During the ceremony, persons in custody at SPP staged a dance performance, while a band formed by persons in custody also sang to convey gratitude to their family members and all those helping them in their rehabilitation.

     Also attending the ceremony were the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Lam Kwok-leung; 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 29, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:57

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