Young persons in custody (PICs) at Sha Tsui Correctional Institution (STCI) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) were presented with certificates at a ceremony today (October 13) in recognition of their efforts and achievements in studies and vocational examinations.

     In the past year, 107 PICs sat for various academic and vocational examinations including the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, the City and Guilds International examinations, the Cambridge English Examinations and the General Aptitude Putonghua Shuiping Kaoshi, and obtained vocational certificates covering Food and Beverage Services, Coffee Making and Latte Art Training, Specialty Drink (Non-alcoholic) Making, Cantonese Cooking, Multimedia Design, Music, Building Services as well as Laundry Skill organised by the Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention, Hong Kong; the School of Professional and Continuing Education, the University of Hong Kong; Christian Action; the Construction Industry Council; Tom Lee Music Foundation and the Vocational Training Council. During the year, the PICs attained 134 merits out of 298 certificates obtained. In the ceremony today, 18 PICs were presented with 92 certificates, of which 41 merits were attained. 

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sik Sik Yuen (SSY), Mr Ma Chak-wa, said that SSY is fully supportive of the rehabilitation work of the CSD, and set up a subsidy scheme named the Sik Sik Yuen - Care and Rehabilitation Education Fund in March 2023, with the aim of supporting needy PICs to pursue continuing education and vocational training. He encouraged the young PICs to remain positive, broaden their vision, and rise to challenges.

     During the ceremony, members of the lion dance team and the marching band performed a lion dance and played various pieces of music to show their gratitude to their families and correctional officers for their unwavering support in the course of rehabilitation. Moreover, PICs put their training into practice and produced a short video by using shooting and editing skills acquired in the Creative Multimedia Technology Training Course to record the learning progress and emotional journey of different PICs during their training in the institution, highlighting how they have found their direction during the learning process and strived to equip themselves to prepare themselves for reintegration into society.
 
     In the sharing session, one of the PICs expressed his gratitude to the CSD for providing support for their rehabilitation. He shared that he grew up in a single-parent family and has been deeply moved by his mother's determination to visit him despite being sick. He then realised his past mistakes and cherished his time to study hard. Another PIC's mother shared the happiness of witnessing the positive changes of her son while undergoing training in STCI. She expressed her appreciation for the support provided by CSD staff which has enabled her to appreciate the significance of rehabilitation work.

     Also attending the ceremony were representatives of non-governmental and community organisations, community leaders and family members of the certificate recipients.

     STCI accommodates young male PICs aged from 14 to under 25. The Department provides half-day education programmes and half-day vocational training for PICs of training centres and rehabilitation centres to help them rehabilitate and prepare for their reintegration into society.

Ends/Friday, October 13, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:00

NNNN