To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Correctional Services Department (CSD), a "Kick-off Ceremony of Celebration Events cum Carnival for 100th Anniversary of CSD" was held at Tai Kwun, Central today (January 12). The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, officiated at the opening ceremony.

     Mr Cheung highlighted in his speech that the CSD has kept up with the times since its establishment in 1920. It has all along strived to maintain highly disciplined correctional facilities in a secure, safe and professional manner, while implemented a wide variety of schemes and programmes to promote rehabilitation in the community. Over the past century, the CSD has progressed with the times and worked diligently behind the scene, making enormous contribution to public safety and crime prevention in Hong Kong.
 
     Mr Cheung also commended the CSD for their relentless efforts in encouraging public to accept and treat kindly rehabilitated persons and at the same time promoting messages on law-abiding and inclusive values. Such efforts include the launch of the "Rehabilitation Pioneer Project" in 2008 which aims to disseminate messages to young people on the importance of leading a law-abiding and drug-free life, and supporting rehabilitated persons. So far, more than 380 000 people have participated in the Project. In 2018, the CSD further set up a uniformed group, namely "Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders" for young talents with leadership potential to broaden their horizons, unleash their potential and promote the message of law-abiding and social inclusion through diversified training programmes.

     The ceremony marked the start of a series of celebration events under the theme of "A Century of Corrections Connecting a Smart Future" throughout this year. Performances at the ceremony and events at an accompanying carnival echoed the theme, combined with creative ideas to demonstrate the evolution of the the CSD.

     The CSD's history has been an eventful journey. When the prison system was established in 1841, the Gaol and the Police were both managed by the first Chief Magistrate. In the early stage of the prison system, Victoria Prison was the only prison in Hong Kong. Till 1920, the then Prisons Department was separated from the Police Department. In 1982, the Prisons Department was renamed as the Correctional Services Department.

     Today's kick-off ceremony presented a dance performance to show the transformation of correctional services over the century, from emphasising safe custody to focusing on custodial and rehabilitative services. Since then, rehabilitation programmes and community education have been actively promoted and a smart prison system has been developed.

     The carnival featured game booths and an old uniforms demonstration by Correctional staff with whom the citizens might take photos. Through an augmented reality booth, members of the public could create personalised photos of themselves wearing vintage uniforms, and insert special illustrations by scanning a QR Code via their digital devices. Visitors were welcome to "check-in" with the illustrations of development of the CSD depicted by various correctional institutions and smart prison elements at the 3D special-effects arts photo booth to feel the history of the century at a quick glance.

     Today, the CSD launched a thematic website for the 100th anniversary that lists out the schedule of a series of celebration events. For details, please refer to www.csd.gov.hk/100a/.

Ends/Sunday, January 12, 2020
Issued at HKT 17:50

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